June 1, 2021 — European Journal of Ultrasound
Abstract
Purpose
Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (f-HCC) is a rare primary liver tumor. Imaging plays an important role in diagnosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of histologically proven f-HCC in comparison to benign focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).
Materials & Methods
16 patients with histologically proven f-HCC lesions and 30 patients with FNH lesions were retrospectively reviewed regarding CEUS features to determine the malignant or benign nature of the focal liver lesions (FLL). Five radiologists assessed the CEUS enhancement pattern and came to a consensus using the EFSUMB (European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology) guideline criteria.
Results
Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma manifested as a single and huge FLL. On CEUS, f-HCC showed heterogeneous hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and hypoenhancement (16/16, 100 %) in the portal venous and late phases (PVLP) as a sign of malignancy. In contrast to the hypoenhancement of f-HCC in the PVLP, all patients with FNH showed hyperenhancement as the most distinctive feature (P < 0.01). 8 f-HCC lesions showed a central scar as an unenhanced area (8/16, 50.0 %), which could also be detected in 53.3 % (16/30) of FNH lesions (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
By analyzing the hypoenhancement in the PVLP, CEUS imaging reliably diagnosed f-HCC as a malignant FLL. CEUS also showed differentiation between f-HCC and FNH lesions, showing similar non-enhanced central scars, whereas f-HCC lesions showed peripheral hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and early washout in the PVLP.
Authors: Yi Dong 1, Wen-Ping Wang 1, Feng Mao 1, Qi Zhang 1, Daohui Yang 1, Andrea Tannapfel 2, Maria Franca Meloni 3, Holger Neye 4, Dirk-André Clevert 5, Christoph F. Dietrich 6
1 Ultrasound, Zhongshan-Hospital Fudan-University, Shanghai, China; 2 Institut für Pathologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany; 3 Casa di Cura Igea Interventional Radiology Department Milano, Italy; 4 Department of Internal Medicine II, Helios Hospital Emil von Behring, Berlin, Germany; 5 Interdisciplinary Ultrasound-Center, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Munich, München, Germany; 6 Department Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Kliniken Hirslanden Beau Site, Salem und Permanence, Switzerland
Read full text at: Ultraschall Med 2021; 42(03): 306-313 DOI: 10.1055/a-1110-7124
