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Challenges in Accurate Diagnosis of HCC in FALD: A Case Series

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Abstract

Patients with single ventricle cardiac disease palliated with Fontan procedures inevitably develop Fontan-Associated Liver Disease (FALD), which poses a significant risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Standard imaging criteria for the diagnosis of cirrhosis are not reliable due to parenchymal heterogeneity of FALD. We present 6 cases to demonstrate our center’s experience and the challenges in diagnosing HCC within this patient population.

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Abbreviations

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

FALD:

Fontan-associated liver disease

CT:

Computed tomography

BTTs:

Blalock-Taussig-Thomas shunt

AFP:

Alpha-fetoprotein

TARE:

Transarterial radioembolization

MELD-XI:

Model for end-stage liver disease-XI

References

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M.F and K.H. wrote the main manuscript text. S.L. prepared the figure. All authors reviewed and contributed to sections of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kali Hopkins.

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Feeley, M., Hopkins, K., Grinspan, L.T. et al. Challenges in Accurate Diagnosis of HCC in FALD: A Case Series. Pediatr Cardiol 44, 1447–1453 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-023-03207-9

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