Small hepatic nodules in cirrhosis: ultrasonographic, CT, and MR imaging findings |
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Authors: | M Kanematsu H Hoshi T Yamada T Murakami T Kim M Kato R Yokoyama H Nakamura |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Radiology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 Tsukasamachi, Gifu 500-8705, Japan, JP;(2) Second Department of Surgery, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 Tsukasamachi, Gifu 500-8705, Japan, JP;(3) Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu 500-8323, Japan, JP;(4) Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka 565-0871, Japan, JP |
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Abstract: | Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the imaging findings of pathologically-proved small hepatic nodules 2 cm in size
or smaller detected with ultrasonography in cirrhotic patients with suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Materials and Methods: We evaluated sonographically detected 32 small hepatic nodules which were pathologically confirmed in 23 consecutive cirrhotic
patients who were suspected of having HCC. Twenty-six lesions were confirmed with ultrasonographically-guided aspiration needle-core
biopsy, and six with definitive surgery. Ultrasonographic examination records were retrospectively reviewed. CT, and MR images
obtained with various imaging techniques were retrospectively reviewed by two radiologists in a blind fashion.
Results: The 32 hepatic nodules were comprised of seven focal fatty changes, two large regenerative nodules, three low-grade dysplastic
nodules, five high-grade dysplastic nodules, and fifteen HCCs. Ultrasonography showed various echogenicity for the hepatic
nodules. The signal-intensity characteristics with T1-weighted spin-echo, in-phase gradient-recalled-echo, and dynamic MR
imagings may be useful in distinguishing HCC from nonHCC nodules.
Conclusions: Nearly half of small hepatic nodules detected with ultrasonography were nonHCC nodules. Ultrasonographic findings may not
be reliable in characterizing small hepatic nodules in cirrhosis. CT and MR imaging obtained with the various techniques are
still insensitive to these hepatic nodules.
RID="ID="<e5>Correspondence to:</e5> M. Kanematsu
Received: 25 August 1997/Revision accepted: 19 November 1997 |
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Keywords: | : Liver neoplasms— Liver ultrasound— Liver computed tomography— Liver magnetic resonance— Comparative studies |
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