Computed tomography in the detection of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

Thirty-two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma less than 5 cm in diameter were examined by computed tomography. At the examination 26 patients (81%) were correctly diagnosed. A common type of CT image series was detectable as low density on the precontrast scan, a positive or mixed pattern on dynamic scan, and visible on postcontrast scan. In 10 patients with minute tumors (less than 2 cm), 7 were correctly diagnosed. CT was valuable for diagnosis of the small hepatocellular carcinomas larger than 1 cm by using the dynamic study after an intravenous bolus injection of the contrast medium.