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Outcomes of follow-up CT for small (5–10-mm) arterially enhancing nodules in the liver and risk factors for developing hepatocellular carcinoma in a surveillance population

  • Hepatobiliary-Pancreas
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Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the outcomes of small (5–10 mm), arterially enhancing nodules (SAENs) shown exclusively at the hepatic arterial phase of CT in a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance population and to determine risk factors for developing HCC.

Methods:

The study population included 112 patients (male:female = 100:12; aged 36–92 years) with 175 SAENs who were at risk of HCC. We evaluated serial changes during follow-up (1.4–41.8 months, mean 35.7 months) and analysed the initial CT findings of SAENs and the accompanying lesions to elucidate the risk factors for HCC development.

Results:

Of 175 SAENs, 101(57.7%) disappeared and 34(19.4%) persisted. Forty SAENs (22.9%) became HCC in 33 patients (29.5%). Presence of HCC treatment history (p = 0.005, risk ratio = 7.429), a larger size of SAEN (p = 0.003, risk ratio = 1.630), presence of coexistent HCC (p = 0.021, risk ratio = 3.777) and absence of coexistent typical arterioportal shunts (p = 0.003, risk ratio = 4.459) turned out to be independently significant risk factors for future development of HCC.

Conclusion:

SAENs were frequently seen in an HCC surveillance population and have a 22.9% probability of becoming HCC on a per-lesion basis. Risk increased particularly when the lesion was associated with a previous or concurrent HCC, a large size or found without a coexistent typical arterioportal shunt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Korea

    Min Jung Park, Young-sun Kim, Won Jae Lee, Hyo K. Lim & Hyunchul Rhim

  2. Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Jongmee Lee

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  1. Min Jung Park
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  2. Young-sun Kim
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  3. Won Jae Lee
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  4. Hyo K. Lim
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  6. Jongmee Lee
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Correspondence to Young-sun Kim.

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Park, M.J., Kim, Ys., Lee, W.J. et al. Outcomes of follow-up CT for small (5–10-mm) arterially enhancing nodules in the liver and risk factors for developing hepatocellular carcinoma in a surveillance population. Eur Radiol 20, 2397–2404 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1810-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1810-y

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