Carlos Bilreiro1,2,3, Juan Carlos Soler4, Juan R Ayuso4, Filipe Caseiro-Alves5,6, Carmen Ayuso7,8. 1. Radiology Department, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Lisbon, Portugal. 2. Pre-Clinical MRI, Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal. 3. Nova Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal. 4. Radiology Department, BCLC Group. Hospital Clínic, c/ Villarroel, 170. Escala 3, Planta 1., 08036, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. 6. Medical Imaging Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal. 7. Radiology Department, BCLC Group. Hospital Clínic, c/ Villarroel, 170. Escala 3, Planta 1., 08036, Barcelona, Spain. cayuso@clinic.cat. 8. IDIBAPS. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas Y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Clinic Liver Cancer Group (BCLC), Barcelona, Spain. cayuso@clinic.cat.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the different morphological enhancement patterns of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI) and to determine their added value in their differential diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of imaging findings in 185 benign hepatocellular lesions (154 FNH; 31 HCA) in 108 patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI was performed by two independent reviewers. Six patterns on HBP were recorded: 1) homogeneous enhancement; 2) peripheral ring-like enhancement with hypointense central core; 3) peripheral ring-like enhancement with hyperintense central core; 4) central core enhancement with hypointense periphery; 5) heterogeneous enhancement; and 6) the absence of enhancement. RESULTS: Peripheral ring-like enhancement with hypointense central core and peripheral ring-like enhancement with hyperintense central core showed the highest specificity for the diagnosis of FNH (100% and 96.8%, respectively). The absence of enhancement and central core enhancement with hypointense periphery were only present in 0.6% and 1.9% of FHN, respectively. All other patterns were observed with similar frequencies in FNH (22.1% to 26.6%). Six HCA showed contrast uptake on the HBP: homogeneous (6.5%), peripheral ring-like enhancement with hyperintense central core (3.2%) and heterogeneous (9.7%). CONCLUSION: Both FNH and HCA may demonstrate enhancement in the HBP of Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI, limiting its specificity. A significant improvement in specificity can be achieved by the evaluation of morphological enhancement patterns: Peripheral ring-like enhancement with hypointense or hyperintense central core was highly specific for FNH diagnosis. On the other hand, the absence of HBP enhancement makes the diagnosis of FNH unlikely.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the different morphological enhancement patterns of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI) and to determine their added value in their differential diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of imaging findings in 185 benign hepatocellular lesions (154 FNH; 31 HCA) in 108 patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI was performed by two independent reviewers. Six patterns on HBP were recorded: 1) homogeneous enhancement; 2) peripheral ring-like enhancement with hypointense central core; 3) peripheral ring-like enhancement with hyperintense central core; 4) central core enhancement with hypointense periphery; 5) heterogeneous enhancement; and 6) the absence of enhancement. RESULTS: Peripheral ring-like enhancement with hypointense central core and peripheral ring-like enhancement with hyperintense central core showed the highest specificity for the diagnosis of FNH (100% and 96.8%, respectively). The absence of enhancement and central core enhancement with hypointense periphery were only present in 0.6% and 1.9% of FHN, respectively. All other patterns were observed with similar frequencies in FNH (22.1% to 26.6%). Six HCA showed contrast uptake on the HBP: homogeneous (6.5%), peripheral ring-like enhancement with hyperintense central core (3.2%) and heterogeneous (9.7%). CONCLUSION: Both FNH and HCA may demonstrate enhancement in the HBP of Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI, limiting its specificity. A significant improvement in specificity can be achieved by the evaluation of morphological enhancement patterns: Peripheral ring-like enhancement with hypointense or hyperintense central core was highly specific for FNH diagnosis. On the other hand, the absence of HBP enhancement makes the diagnosis of FNH unlikely.
Authors: Igino Simonetti; Federico Bruno; Roberta Fusco; Carmen Cutolo; Sergio Venanzio Setola; Renato Patrone; Carlo Masciocchi; Pierpaolo Palumbo; Francesco Arrigoni; Carmine Picone; Andrea Belli; Roberta Grassi; Francesca Grassi; Antonio Barile; Francesco Izzo; Antonella Petrillo; Vincenza Granata Journal: J Pers Med Date: 2022-07-16