The role of imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma: the present and future.

Imaging plays an important role in diagnosis and management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although ultrasound is the main surveillance imaging tool for HCC, dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used primarily for diagnosis and staging of HCC. Recent advances in both CT and MRI technology have led to a decrease in ionizing radiation exposure and improved capabilities for evaluation of HCC, including, dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and MRI, perfusion CT and MRI, dual-energy CT, radiation dose reduction strategies, diffusion-weighted imaging, MR elastography, iron and fat quantification, and intravenous hepatobiliary contrast agents.