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Objective:To investigate the application value of preoperative clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) targetoid enhancement combined with alpha-fetoprotein in evaluating the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) in patients undergoing radical resection for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without macrovascular invasion.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 220 patients who underwent radical resection for single HCC without macrovascular invasion in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2016 to December 2020 were collected. There were 171 males and 49 females, aged (56±11)years. Of the 220 patients, 52 cases showed positive CK19 expression, while 168 cases showed negative CK19 expression. Observation indicators: (1) MRI and immunohistochemical staining results of patients with different status of CK19 expression; (2) comparison of clinical features of patients with different status of CK19 expression; (3) comparison of MRI features in patients with different status of CK19 expression; (4) analysis of influencing factors for CK19 expression in patients and predictive value. The normality of continuous variables was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were expressed as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers and (or) percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed by the non-parameter rank sum test. The relevant clinical and imaging features with P<0.05 were included in the binary Logistic regression model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive efficiency of the model. Results:(1) MRI and immunohistochemical staining results of patients with different status of CK19 expre-ssion. Results of MRI examination in patients with positive CK19 expression showed the tumors with low-signal intensity on plain T1-weighted imaging, annular high enhancement in the arterial phase, clear boundaries in the portal venous phase, central enhance-ment in the delayed phase and targetoid high signals on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Immuno-histochemical staining revealed a positive CK19 expression. Results of MRI examination in patients with negative CK19 expression showed the tumors with low-signal intensity on plain T1-weighted imaging, non-annular high enhancement in the arterial phase, unclear boundaries in the portal venous phase, low signals compared with peripheral liver tissue in the delayed phase and uniform high signals on DWI. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a negative CK19 expression. (2) Clinical features of patients with different status of CK19 expression. The neutrophil count and cases with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 μg/L were 3.07(2.21,4.41)×10 9/L and 26 in patients with positive CK19 expression, versus 2.72(2.05, 3.51)×10 9/L and 48 in patients with negative CK19 expression, showing significant differences between them ( Z=?2.06, χ2=8.17, P<0.05). (3) Compari-son of MRI features in patients with different status of CK19 expression. Cases with tumor diameter ≥ 5 cm and cases with tumor showing targetoid enhancement were 34 and 22 in patients with positive CK19 expression, versus 82 and 24 in patients with negative CK19 expression, showing significant differences between them ( χ2=4.38, 18.86, P<0.05). (4) Analysis of influencing factors for CK19 expression in patients and predictive value. Results of multivariate analysis showed that AFP ≥ 400 μg/L and targetoid enhance-ment were independent risk factors for positive CK19 expression in HCC patients [ odds ratio=2.09, 3.23, 95% confidence interval ( CI) as 1.06?4.13, 1.49?6.99, P<0.05]. Results of ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of targetoid enhancement for predicting positive CK19 expression was 0.64 (95% CI as 0.57?0.71), with the sensitivity and specificity as 42.31% and 85.71%. The AUC of AFP ≥400 μg/L for predicting positive CK19 expression was 0.61 (95% CI as 0.53?0.68), with the sensitivity and specificity as 51.00% and 71.43%. The AUC of targetoid enhancement combined with AFP ≥400 μg/L for predicting positive CK19 expression was 0.69 (95% CI as 0.61?0.77), with the sensitivity and specificity as 67.31% and 63.10%, respectively. Conclusions:Targetoid enhancement and AFP ≥400 μg/L are independent risk factors for positive CK19 expression in patients with single HCC without macrovascular invasion. Their combination has clinical value for preoperative evaluation of CK19 expression.
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Objective:To study preoperative MRI imaging and its enhanced mode on tumor features in predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The clinical data of patients with a solitary HCC who underwent MRI examination followed by surgical resection at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2017 to June 2019 were studied. The patients were divided into the MVI (+ ) and MVI (-) groups according to the findings on postoperative pathological diagnosis. The relationship between the rates of MVI and MRI tumor features including diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) signal, enhancement mode, enhancement type and other imaging characteristics were analysed.Results:Of 84 patients with HCC enrolled into this study, there were 65 males and 19 females. Their age (Mean±SD) was (54.94±11.51) years. MVI (+ ) was found in 46 patients and MVI (-) in 38 patients. The maximum tumor diameters (Mean±SD) of the two groups were (7.08±3.45) cm and (4.28±2.47) cm ( P<0.01). Single-factor analysis and comparison of imaging characteristics of the two groups of patients showed tumor DWI signal, tumor encapsulation, enhancement mode, tumor edge smoothness, abnormal enhancement around tumors, and intratumoral arteries were significantly different ( P<0.05); There were no significant differences in T 1WI signals, T 2WI signals, tumor periphery, and enhancement types between groups. After inputting MVI(+ ) as a risk factor into the logistic regression model, tumor maximum diameters >6.33 cm, type 3/4 enhancement mode, and unsmoothness of tumor edge were independent risk factors (all P<0.05). Through combined diagnosis using ROC curve analysis with a cut-off value of 0.53, the area under the curve was 0.881, the sensitivity 0.870, specificity 0.789, and the Youden index 0.659. Conclusion:The multivariate logistic regression model and combined diagnosis using ROC curve analysis improved the diagnostic efficacy of MVI in its prediction of HCC on imaging studies. The risk predictors were easy to use and to promote in clinical practice.
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Objective:To analyze the imaging features of spontaneous rupture of primary liver cancer (PLC) and to study the high-risk factors associated with tumor rupture.Methods:From September 2016 to August 2020, 81 patients who developed spontaneous rupture of PLC at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University were included into this study. A control group of 81 patients with tumors located on the periphery of the liver but without rupture treated in the same period were selected by matching the two groups with age, sex and BCLC staging. The clinical data and CT imaging characteristics including tumor location, extent, size, and morphology of the two groups of patients were compared retrospectively between groups.Multivariate logistics regression was used to analyze.Results:A total of 81 patients were included in the case group, including 72 males and 9 females, aged (53.69±10.34) years. The control group included 81 patients, 64 males and 17 females, aged (54.78±9.04) years. The main risk factors for spontaneous rupture of PLC included in this study were cirrhosis, tumor close to diaphragm, biolobar distribution, portal vein obstruction, tumor diameter >10 cm, invasion of liver capsule (arc-to-chord ratio>1) and tumor protrusion ≥25% ( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that cirrhosis ( OR=2.796, 95% CI: 1.721-10.834), portal vein obstruction ( OR=3.586, 95% CI: 1.272-10.107) and tumor protrusion (≥25%) ( OR=2.831, 95% CI: 1.668-22.210) were independent predictive factors of spontaneous rupture of PLC. Conclusion:Tumor protrusion≥25%, cirrhosis and portal vein obstruction were closely related to spontaneous rupture of PLC. They were independent risk factors in predicting rupture of primary liver cancer.
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Objective:To explore the value of clinical data and MRI image features in predicting and analyzing the degree of differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The clinical and imaging data of 180 patients with surgical outcomes of HCC from March 2015 to June 2019 in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)、aspartate aminotransferase (AST)、D-dimer、clinical stage、tumor length、apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)、enhancement types and so on the clinical and imaging data of the poorly differentiated and non-differentiated HCC were compared and analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict independent risk factors for poorly differentiated HCC.Results:Of the 180 HCC patients, 121 were moderately and highly differentiated, and 59 were poorly differentiated. Univariate analysis showed that the patient’s age, gender, AFP, AST, D-dimer level, clinical stage, Child-Pugh score, tumor length, whether the capsule was complete, tumor apparent diffusion coefficient, the maximum level ADC value, enhancement type with HCC differentiation degree were correlated(all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patients' gender ( OR=4.524, P<0.05), clinical stage ( OR=5.598, P<0.05), D-dimer ( OR=8.576, P<0.05), HCC diameter ( OR=0.498, P<0.05), enhancement types ( OR=2.988, P<0.05), tumour ADC value ( OR=0.059, P<0.05) were independent of poorly differentiated HCC risk factor. Conclusion:MRI image features can be used as an effective indicator to predict the degree of HCC differentiation before surgery. It is more valuable to accurately predict the degree of HCC combined with D-dimer and AFP value.
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Objective:To evaluate the radiation doses from head and chest CT examinations of children in Ningxia, and provide basic data for the optimization of CT radiation doses to children of different ages.Methods:By using stratified cluster sampling method , the dose parameters on head and chest CT scanning, CTDI vol and DLP for the children under 15 years old were sampled within 1-2 weeks from hospitals at different levels in different regions of Ningxia for the calculation of effective doses. The 75th percentile (P75) of CTDI vol and DLP was compared with those recommended by other countries. All children included four age groups: up to 1 year old, 1 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years, 11 to 15 years. Results:There were 39 hospitals and 47 CT scanners in this survey, and 1 134 head scanning and 636 chest scanning were investigating. The 75th percentile (P75) of CTDI vol and DLP for head scanning were 44.2 mGy and 456.2 mGy·cm for those up to 1 year old; 57.2 mGy and 659.6 mGy·cm for 1 to 5 years old, 61.1 mGy and 668.7 mGy·cm for 6-10 years old, and 63.6 mGy and 849.3 mGy·cm for 11-15 years old, respectively. The 75th percentile (P75) of CTDI vol and DLP for chest scanning were 5.0 mGy and 89.2 mGy·cm for those up to 1 year old, 5.9 mGy and 124.8 mGy·cm for 1 to 5 years old, 6.0 mGy and 167.9 mGy·cm for 6 to 10 years, and 7.1 mGy and 235.0 mGy·cm for 11 to 15 years old, respectively. Conclusions:The chest CT radiation dose to children in Ningxia is close to the reported values, but the head CT radiation dose is relatively high in all age groups, especially in infants. The optimization and regulation of head CT radiation doses to children in Ningxia should be strengthened. It is high time to increase dose awareness for pediatricians and radiologists and raise awareness of radiation-related risks.