Imaging of adenomatous hyperplastic lesions containing and not containing hepatocellular carcinoma in the liver

In 41 patients with 54 lesions which were resected ans studied histopathologically, there were 14 lesions of adenomatous hyperplasias (AH) in 9 patients, 28 AHs containing hepatocellular carcinoma foci (early HCC, e-HCC) in 22 and 12 borderline lesions which fell between these two lesions in 10. The detectability of these lesions on imagings was evaluated. Detection rates for all lesions and e-HCCs were as follows; intraoperative sonography, 70.0%, 87.5%; Portal-CT, 71.4%; sonography, 44.4%. 64.3%; Arterial-CT, 37.5%, 50.0%; CT, 32.7%, 57.7%; angiography, 17.0%, 30.8%; Lipiodol-CT, 9.1%. 25.0%. On angiography, tumor stain was recognized in only 8 patients with e-HCC. Arterial-CT showed a relatively low density mass compared to non-tumorous area in 2 patients with e-HCC and one with borderline lesion. The median size of 54 lesions was 1.2 +/- 0.4 cm in diameter and that of AHs was 0.8 +/- 0.3 cm, the latter being significantly smaller than the other two lesions (p less than 0.01). Liver cirrhosis coexisted in 35 of 41 patients (85.4%). No complete necrosis occurred in 13 e-HCC lesions following therapeutic embolization or infusion chemotherapy in the hepatic artery.     

The value of ultrasonography for hepatic surgery.

Ultrasonography plays an important role in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Ultrasonography detected 53% of 287 patients with small (less than or equal to 5 cm) hepatocellular carcinomas. Among 486 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas, sensitivities of intra-operative ultrasonography in detecting 451 small primary hepatocellular carcinoma nodules, intrahepatic metastasis in 330 patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma and 63 tumor thrombi were 98, 48 and 67%, respectively. The sensitivity of intra-operative ultrasonography in detecting small primary tumors was 10% better than ultrasonography, computed tomography, and angiography. The sensitivity of intra-operative ultrasonography in intrahepatic metastasis and tumor thrombus was two to three times better than pre-operative examination. Intra-operative ultrasonography was useful in detecting nonpalpable tumors and in guiding the transection of the liver, biopsy, and cryosurgery. Moreover, intra-operative ultrasonography made possible new hepatectomy procedures: systematic subsegmentectomy and hepatectomies which preserve the inferior right hepatic vein. Systematic subsegmentectomy guided by intra-operative ultrasonography resulted in better survival rates than the limited resection in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma two years after hepatectomy; by the sixth year, this difference was significant (p less than 0.05). Ultrasonography and intra-operative ultrasonography are indispensable in the early detection, accurate diagnosis, operative guidance and postoperative care of hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Sonographic characteristics of small hepatocellular carcinoma

Fifty-four lesions of small hepatocellular carcinoma under 5 cm in diameter detected by real-time sonography were reviewed to characterize the sonographic feature. Twenty-nine lesions were smaller than 3 cm in diameter and 25 were between 3 and 5 cm in diameter. Sonographic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma were peripheral hypoechoic halo (52%), lateral shadow (26%), posterior acoustic enhancement (44%), and mosaic pattern (24%) of the mass. Small tumors less than 3 cm in diameter showed a hypoechoic pattern in half of the cases, whereas most of the tumors between 3 and 5 cm in diameter showed a hyperechoic or mixed pattern. Posterior acoustic enhancement was commonly seen in small tumors less than 3 cm in diameter, while a mosaic pattern was commonly seen in large tumors between 3 and 5 cm in diameter. These results suggest that sonography might be useful for the characterization of small hepatocellular carcinoma.     

CT-guided agar marking for localization of nonpalpable peripheral pulmonary lesions.

BACKGROUND: Small pulmonary lesions with ground-glass opacity (GGO) are increasingly detected by CT; however, intraoperative localization of such lesions is difficult because these lesions are often invisible and nonpalpable. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To localize and resect nonpalpable and invisible small pulmonary lesions, a new marking technique that we call "agar marking" was developed. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Powdered agar was dissolved in distilled water at a concentration of 5% and kept at > 50 degrees C to maintain its liquid form. Agar was injected through an 18-gauge needle and placed near the target lesion with CT. After animal experiments, agar marking was applied to the nine patients who had lesions < 20 mm in diameter and lesions with GGO. The mean diameter of these lesions was 11 mm, with a mean depth of 19 mm from the pleural surface on CT. RESULTS: Agar could be detected as a hard nodule by manual palpation, and the lesion was resected during thoracotomy in all cases. There were no complications associated with the agar injection, aside from one case of slight pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: Agar marking may represent a feasible alternative technique for localizing nonpalpable occult lesions located away from the pleural surface.     

Enhanced color flows in hepatic tumors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The study was to utilize both color Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography to analyze the enhancement characteristics of hepatic tumors known to have a clinical or histologically confirmed diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, hemangioma, or focal nodular hyperplasia. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-two hepatocellular carcinomas, 6 hemangiomas, and 2 focal nodular hyperplasias were observed with color Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography before and after contrast agent (Levovist) administration. Color Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography were used to detect the intratumoral vasculature and their sensitivity would be evaluated. RESULTS: Significant improvement in the detection of color flow signals was obtained in hepatocellular carcinomas after administering Levovist (32% (7/22) vs. 91% (20/22); p = 0.0002), but it was not significant in hemangiomas (0% (0/6) vs. 33% (2/6); p = 0.454). Power Doppler sonography was more sensitive than color Doppler sonography in the detection of flow signals in hepatocellular carcinomas after administering Levovist (91% (20/22) vs. 50% (11/22); p = 0.008). Eighty percent (16/20) of hepatocellular carcinomas had signals of curvilinear type versus spotty type (p = 0.0005), the detected signal in both hemangiomas was iris diaphragm phenomenon. The typical spoke-wheel appearance of focal nodular hyperplasia was more easily demonstrated after administering Levovist. The hepatocellular carcinomas with absent baseline flow (1.2-5.6 cm, mean: 3.1 +/- 1.0 cm) tended to be smaller than the hepatocellular carcinomas with baseline flows (2.3-8.3 cm, mean: 4.9 +/- 2.2 cm) (p = 0.06). The 9 hepatocellular carcinomas (largest diameter: 1.2-3.8 cm, mean: 2.6 +/- 0.8 cm) with enhanced flows only observed by power Doppler sonography was smaller than the 11 hepatocellular carcinomas (largest diameter: 2.3-8.3 cm, mean: 4.5 +/- 1.8 cm) with enhanced flows observed by color Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced color flow study may aid in the detection of flow signals or sonographic differentiation of hepatic tumors.     

Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma

Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of small size, not larger than 5 cm in diameter, were studied in forty-three patients with underlying cirrhosis, who were detected among one-hundred-and-sixty-five HCC cases over a period of 4.5 years from 1981 to 1985. The patients included fifteen cases with tumors smaller than 3 cm in diameter which were diagnosed HCC mostly during the follow-up period of liver cirrhosis. Among various imaging procedures, real-time linear scan ultrasonography (US) had a 91% positive HCC detection rate, hepatic angiography 93% and computed tomography (CT) 88%. Surgical treatment including partial resection, subsegmentectomy and segmentectomy, was carried out in fifteen HCC cases with well-compensated cirrhosis. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was performed in nineteen cases with severe liver dysfunction and multiple location of tumors. Three-year survival was 80% in twelve patients with hepatic resection (performed since 1981) and 19% in the TAE cases; none of the other cases survived.     

Management of large adrenal glands discovered incidentally

Incidental adrenal tumors are more and more often discovered with development of the new radiological techniques (CT scan, sonography). In such an occurrence, the largest panel of adrenal hormones measurements is needed. In the absence of hormonal abnormality, no exam can help for the clinical decision-making. According to epidemiological findings, we propose to operate upon tumors larger than 6 cm and to repeat CT scans at 2, 6 and 18 months for tumors smaller than 6 cm which should be operated upon if an enlargement of the adrenal tumor is demonstrated by a control exam. This attitude relies upon the quite higher frequency of adrenal adenomas (more than 99% of non-functioning adrenal tumors) and the more important risk of malignant adrenal carcinoma in front of a huge tumor. It appears to be the right choice in a cost-effectiveness perspective.     

The value of ultrasound and computerized tomography in detection of cystic changes in chronic pancreatitis]

Intra- or extrapancreatic pseudocysts (PP) are the most common local complication in chronic pancreatitis. Aim of this study was to investigate frequency, localisation and size of pseudocysts in patients with chronic pancreatitis by means of ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT). 155 patients (females 35, males 120) with chronic pancreatitis, that underwent simultaneous (within two weeks) CT and US examinations, from January 1982 to June 1989, were included in this study. Cystic lesions were detected in 62% by CT, in 52% by US. Sensitivity in detection of cysts based on intraoperative findings (gold standard) was 98% for CT and 94% for US. 80% of the pseudocysts were smaller than 6 cm. 46% were in the range from 2 to 66 cm and 34% were smaller than 2 cm. The most common localisation was the pancreatic head region (50%), 20 of 102 patients with chronic pancreatitis were found to have a direct communication of a pseudocyst with the ductal system by ERP. No specific clinical or laboratory pattern were associated with the presence of pseudocysts. Increased pancreatic serum amylase concentration was detected in 29% of patients with and in 27% of patients without pseudocysts.     

The detection and prognosis of small pancreatic carcinoma

During a period of 16 years, 203 proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were studied. Tumor size was measured on either the resected or the autopsy specimen. Four tumors were smaller than 1 cm, and 17 tumors were between 1.1 and 2 cm. ERCP has been found to be the most accurate in the diagnosis of small pancreatic carcinoma. Followup of 44 patients in whom the tumor was resected showed that survival depended on tumor size. In four patients with tumors smaller than 1 cm without parenchymal invasion, the postoperative 5-yr cumulative survival rate was 100%. Pancreatic carcinoma smaller than 1 cm limited to duct epithelium is considered as early cancer. Various diagnostic imaging modalities are now available to evaluate patients in whom pancreatic carcinoma is clinically suspected. These include ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and angiography. More recently magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and peroral pancreatic ductal biopsy also have been used. This report compares diagnostic modalities for pancreatic carcinoma in order to provide a data base for their rational use in the diagnosis of small resectable pancreatic carcinomas.     

超声内镜诊断胰腺内分泌肿瘤的价值

目的探讨超声内镜诊断胰腺内分泌肿瘤的价值．方法胰腺内分泌肿瘤患者１０例,进行了超声内镜、血管造影、ＭＲＩ,ＣＴ及超声波检查．结果超声内镜对胰腺内分泌肿瘤的诊断率为９２３％,其中肿瘤直径在２ｃｍ以下的诊断率为８７５％,肿瘤轮廓清晰,边缘整,内部回声呈强回声、低回声、等回声和混合性回声;超声波的诊断率为４６２％;ＣＴ平扫和增强扫描的诊断率分别为３０７％和４６２％;ＭＲＩＴ１呈低信号、Ｔ２呈高信号,诊断率为７２７％;血管造影的诊断率为８４６％．结论超声内镜对胰腺内分泌肿瘤的定位诊断和定性诊断优于其他影像学检查,特别是对胰腺小肿瘤的诊断,更显示出它的价值．     

螺旋CT、能谱CT和MRI诊断原发性肝癌的临床价值比较

目的 探讨螺旋CT、能谱CT和MRI诊断原发性肝癌的价值比较。方法 选取47例疑似原发性肝癌患者,采用螺旋CT、能谱CT和MRI诊断,比较不同扫描方法的诊断效能。结果 47例患者经三种扫描方法检查,发现能谱CT诊断的真阳性患者36例（76.59%）,常规CT为30例（63.83%）,MRI为34例（72.34%）,三种方法诊断的差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;在8例胆管细胞癌患者中,MRI诊断7例,能谱CT和螺旋CT检查均为4例;能谱CT扫描和MRI诊断的灵敏度分别为92.3%和89.2%,均优于常规CT（76.6%,P<0.05）,能谱CT诊断的准确率为72.5%,MRI为69.7%,常规CT为50.0%（P<0.05）;此外,能谱CT扫描曲线下面积（AUC）大于常规CT或MRI（t=7.69,t=9.03,P<0.05）;在小于1 cm的肝癌中,常规CT、能谱CT和MRI扫描的灵敏度分别为53.13%,90.63%和90.63%, MRI扫描和能谱CT均高于常规CT扫描（P<0.05）。结论 能谱CT扫描和MRI在诊断原发性肝癌方面,其灵敏度和准确率均优于螺旋CT扫描,在诊断小肝癌方面也具有明显的优势, MRI在诊断胆管细胞癌方面优于能谱CT或螺旋CT扫描。     

Comparison of CT, MRI and CT during arterial portography in the detection of malignant hepatic lesions

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A prospective study was performed to compare the sensitivities of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and CTAP (CT during arterial portography) in the detection of focal malignant hepatic lesions. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-eight (28) patients with primary and secondary hepatic malignant tumors were evaluated. All of these patients underwent hepatic resection and a lesion-to-lesion imaging-pathological analysis was performed. RESULTS: The overall sensitivities were 53% for CT, 66% for MRI sequences and 88% for CTAP. For lesions smaller than 1 cm the sensitivities were 6% for CT, 17% for MRI and 72% for CTAP. The combination of CTAP and MRI yielded an overall detection rate of 93%. The difference between the sensitivity of CTAP and that of the other two imaging techniques was statistically significant (P < 0.04) according to the McNemar test. CTAP demonstrated four false-positive lesions, two of which were correctly characterized by MRI and one by CT. In 6 patients (21.4%) the surgical plan was modified after CTAP. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, CTAP has the highest sensitivity and should be part of the preoperative examination. In some instances, the addition of MR imaging must be considered a helpful adjuvant. Both techniques should be considered complementary in the preoperative diagnostic algorithm.     

Diagnostic significance of angiography for small hepatocellular carcinoma--comparison with other examinations]

The diagnostic value of angiography for small hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated in comparison with histology, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, and ultrasonography. A total of 120 patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (less than 3 cm in size) were examined. The definitive detection rate for primary tumors less than 2 cm in size was 44.9% by angiography, while it was 68.6% for primary tumors between 2 cm and 3 cm in size. When the primary tumor was less than 2 cm in size and without tumor vessels on angiography, it tended to be of Edmondson's grade 1 and to show fatty change. When the primary tumor was less than 2 cm in size and without tumor stain while non-cancerous parenchyma showed irregular stain, it tended to be of Edmondson's grade 1 and normotrabecular type. Angiography was found to be of particular value in detecting satellite tumors with a nodular parenchymal echo pattern in non-cancerous areas, because ultrasonography often fails to differentiate these satellite tumors from non-affected parenchyma.     

经皮射频消融治疗肝脏肿瘤近期疗效观察

目的：探讨经皮射频消融(PRFA)对肝脏恶性肿瘤的治疗效果。方法：利用RF—2000^TM肿瘤射频治疗系统，在B超或CT引导下对55例肝恶性肿瘤患者73个肿块进行经皮肝穿刺射频热凝治疗，并用B超及CT检查以了解PRFA治疗效果。结果：PRFA治疗后60．9％(42／9)的肿块血供消失，61．6％(45／73)的肿块呈完全凝固性坏死。其中直径小于3cm中的20个肿块(另4个治疗前即无血供)全部血供消失(100％)，24个肿块呈完全凝固性坏死(100％)；直径为3-5cm的18个肿块中16个血供消失(88．9％)，14个完全凝固性坏死(77．8％)；而直径大于5cm的肿瘤则治疗后肿块血供完全消失及完全凝固性坏死率均显著降低。肿瘤直径小于5cm的患者生存期较长。结论：集束电极PRFA治疗肝脏恶性肿瘤创伤小，安全，疗效可靠。肿瘤越小治疗效果越好。     

彩色多普勒超声诊断主动脉瘤的观察与分析

目的 探讨超声诊断主动脉瘤的可靠性和准确性,评价其临床价值。方法 应用HP2500及TOSHIBA SSA-380A超声诊断仪,检查36例主动脉瘤患者,并将其部分超声检查结果与CT、核磁(MRI)、数字减影血管造影(DSA)及手术结果进行比较。结果 夹层动脉瘤与CT、MRI、DSA检查结果的符合率分别为86%、80%、89%;腹主动脉瘤与MRI、DSA及手术结果的符合率为100%。结论 彩色多普勒超声检查可发现有无主动脉瘤、动脉瘤的大小、范围、搏动和血流状态,对于夹层动脉瘤破裂口的观察、指导临床手术方案的选择有重要意义。     

Localization of small islet-cell tumors. Preoperative and intraoperative ultrasound, computed tomography, arteriography, digital subtraction angiography, and pancreatic venous sampling

A total of 42 islet-cell tumors were examined between 1972 and 1984. Problems of localization were only encountered in 31 tumors less than 2 cm in diameter. Of 31 small tumors, 27 were correctly localized using a combined diagnostic approach: ultrasound was successful in 12/20 tumors, CT in 9/21, angiography in 20/31, intraarterial digital subtraction angiography in 1/2, and pancreatic venous sampling in 13/16. The smallest tumor found by ultrasound and CT was 7 mm in diameter. Intraoperative ultrasound demonstrated all 9 insulinomas examined. Currently, the most useful techniques for localizing small islet-cell tumors are ultrasound, CT, and angiography. CT is particularly useful for tumor staging. Improvement of non-invasive diagnostic techniques will obviate the need for transhepatic blood sampling.     

Influence of staging thoracic computed tomography on radiation therapy planning for esophageal carcinoma

Radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy is frequently used as definitive treatment for esophageal carcinoma. Although thoracic computed tomography (CT) is widely used in staging esophageal carcinoma, its application to radiation therapy planning has been regarded as optional rather than mandatory. Conventional radiation therapy planning is esophagogram-based rather than CT-based. The treatment port is generated by adding 5 cm to the proximal and distal margins of the tumor-involved segment as seen on esophagogram performed in the treatment position. Historically, a maximum port length of 15 cm was recommended to avoid excessive treatment morbidity. The authors examined the limitations of such a planning protocol by projecting conventional treatment ports onto the thoracic CT of 75 consecutive newly diagnosed cases of nondisseminated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The authors assessed the adequacy of coverage of the primary tumor and metastatic nodes, with respect to data from thoracic CT and neck ultrasonography. It was found that up to 38% of T2-T3 tumors and 30% of short-length (< or =5 cm) tumors had metastatic nodes outside the port. The addition of neck ultrasonography led to identification of an additional 5% of patients with nonpalpable nodes outside the port. It is concluded that the frequency of inadequate tumor coverage using an esophagogram-based planning protocol, with a maximum port length of 15 cm, is unacceptably high. Thoracic CT should be a mandatory rather than optional imaging investigation in guiding radiation therapy planning for esophageal cancer.     

Role of selective angiography in the management of patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

To determine the ability of selective abdominal angiography to localize gastrinoma in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, selective angiography was performed in 70 consecutive patients and the results were assessed prospectively by either surgery, autopsy, or percutaneous biopsy. In addition, to define the role of angiography in the management of patients with gastrinoma, we compared the results of angiography with those of computed tomography (CT) scanning in 58 patients who underwent both tests. For gastrinoma in the liver, angiography had a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 86% with a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 94%. For extrahepatic gastrinoma, angiography had a specificity of 94% and a sensitivity of 68%, a positive predictive value of 97% and a negative predictive value of 53%. Comparison of CT scanning and angiography demonstrated that for hepatic tumor CT demonstrated 72% and angiography 89% of tumors, and the combination detected all tumors with no false-positive results. Outside the liver, CT scanning detected 57%, angiography 70%, and the combination 73% of tumors with a false-positive rate of 7%. These results indicate that if a CT scan is performed first, then the addition of selective angiography will detect a further 28% of hepatic tumors and a further 16% of extrahepatic tumors, but that 24% of extrahepatic tumors will still be missed. Angiography is a useful adjunct to CT particularly in patients in whom surgery is contemplated.     

Laparoscopic resection of splenic artery aneurysm; a case report

We report a case of a patient who underwent three-dimensional arterial computed tomography, color Doppler sonography and laparoscopic splenectomy for splenic artery aneurysm. Helical computed tomography revealed a splenic artery aneurysm, 3.0 x 1.8 cm in diameter. Color Doppler sonography reveals a weak pulsatile flow from the aneurysm. Surgical treatment is indicated for such cases since approximately 10% of these aneurysms tend to rupture which thus results in fatal hemorrhaging. As a result, a laparoscopic splenectomy was performed. According to our experience, three-dimensional computed tomography and color Doppler sonography can be performed for the arterial and venous information with less invasion than angiography and a laparoscopic splenectomy for splenic aneurysm can be performed which is safer and less invasive than conventional open procedure.     

Is resection for large hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients beneficial? Study of 38 cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients generally carries a poor prognosis either due to recurrence or to postoperative morbidity or both. Several factors affect the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma resection as presence of cirrhosis of the liver, tumor diameter and tumor capsulation. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-eight patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma greater than 5 cm with a background of cirrhotic liver were divided into two groups according to tumor diameter. Group A (n = 20) with tumors less than 10 cm in diameter, and group B (n = 18) with tumors larger than 10 cm. All patients underwent preoperative investigations including clinical laboratory tests, sonography, computed tomography, selective angiography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. All patients were subjected to different types of hepatic resection. RESULTS: A significant difference in tumor size, capsulation, and operation time were recorded between the two groups, of patients. No significant difference was detected between both groups regarding sex, age, viral markers, pathologic features, and Child classification. Hospital mortality occurred in 5% versus 11.1% of both groups, respectively. Postoperative jaundice and ascitis occurred in 30%, 35% versus 44.4%, 72.0%, respectively (P < 0.005, P < 0.04). Late mortality occurred in 65% of patients in group A and in 77% of group B. Recurrence was detected in 42% of group A and 62% in group B. Recurrence after resection in capsulated tumors was significantly lower than in noncapsulated tumors in group A (P < 0.01), but not significant in group B. Also, survival rate in patients with capsulated tumors was significantly better in both groups (P < 0.01) than that with noncapsulated tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with diameter larger than 10 cm recorded bad prognosis regarding recurrence and mortality rates than tumors less than 10 cm. However, capsulated tumors gave better postoperative prognosis than noncapsulated ones.