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The integration of artificial intelligence into the medical field is developing rapidly and has achieved ground-breaking advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and efficacy evaluation of imaging medicine. This article reviews the research advances in artificial intelligence in imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and its performance in evaluating treatment outcome and predicting prognosis in combination with clinical features and looks forward to how artificial intelligence can be better used in the practice of hepatocellular carcinoma imaging in the era of growing clinical needs and rapid advances in diagnosis and treatment techniques.
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Objective To investigate the clinical value of Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18 F-FDG)positron-emission temography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examination to predict microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 51 HCC patients who were admitted to Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University (32 patients) and Universal Medical Imaging Diagnostic Center (19 patients) from January 2013 to October 2017 were collected.Of 51 patients receiving postoperative pathological examination,21 diagnosed with positive MVI and 30 diagnosed with negative MVI were respectively allocated into the positive and negative MVI groups.All the patients received preoperative 1s F-FDG PET/CT examination and underwent surgery after related examinations.Two imaging doctors independently read films and made a semi-quantitative analysis.Observation indicators:(1) results of 18F-FDG PET/CT examination;(2) multivariate analysis and diagnostic value affecting MVI of HCC;(3) treatment and follow-up.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the postoperative patients' survival up to November 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s,and comparisons between groups were evaluated with the independent-sample t test.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (Qn),and comparisons between groups were analyzed using the independent-sample rank sum test.Comparisons of count data were analyzed using the chisquare test.Logistic regression analysis was performed in variables with statistical significance.The inclusion criteria was 0.05 and exclusion criteria was 0.10 according to Backward (LR) method for screening variables.Receiver Operating Characeristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value using MVI as a diagnostic standard.Results (1) Results of 18F-FDG PET/CT examination:of 51 HCC patients,tumors located in the right lobe,left lobe and caudate lobe of the liver were respectively detected in 37,12 and 2 patients.CT examinations of 51 HCC patients:HCCs showed the hypodense shadow or slightly hypodense shadow in liver and were round-like,and some of the larger lesions were irregularly conglomerate,with a relatively clear tumor-liver boundary;tumor necrosis area showed patchy and irregular lower density,with small lesions around the port of tumors.Of 51 patients,34 were positive on PET and 17 were negative on PET,and some necrotic areas showed no uptake and located in the center of tumors.There was no abnormal 18 F-FDG uptake in other parts of the whole body.The maximum diameter of tumor was (6± 3)cm.The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax),and ratio of SUVmax of tumor to SUVmax of liver (SUVmax T/L) in all the lesions were 6.38±4.91 and 2.42±1.93,respectively.The mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean),metabolism of volume (MTV),total lesion of glycolysis (TLG) of 40 patients were 4.30± 2.46,43.82 cm3 (8.97 cm3,219.13 cm3) and 165.73 (28.26,794.50),respectively,and software could not automatically delineate lesions in other 11 patients due to low metabolism.Delayed imaging was found in 21 patients,and the delayed SUVmax and retention index (RI) were 7.22±6.26,19.66％ (-7.10％,50.84％),respectively.The cases with positive and negative on PET were 18,3 in the positive MVI group and 16,14 in the negative MVI group,respectively,with a statistically significant difference between groups (x2=5.829,P＜0.05).The maximum diameter of tumor in the positive MVI group and negative MVI group was respectively (7.7±2.9)cm and (5.2±3.1)cm,with a statistically significant difference between groups (t=-2.930,P＜0.05).(2) Multivariate analysis and diagnostic value affecting MVI of HCC:the results of multivariate analysis showed that maximum diameter of tumor was an independent factor affecting MVI of HCC (OR=1.276,95％ confidence interval:1.028-1.585,P＜0.05).The area under the ROC curve of the maximum diameter of tumor was 0.723 using MVI as a diagnostic standard.The sensitivity,specificity and Youden index were respectively 90.5％,50.0％ and 0.405,with 4.55 cm as the critical value.(3) Treatment and followup:all 51 patients underwent tumor resection.Twenty-two patients were followed up for 25 months (range,12-46 months).The 1-and 2-year overall survival rates were 81.8％ (18/22) and 63.6％ (14/22),respectively.The 1-and 2-year tumor-free survival rates were 59.1％ (13/22) and 45.5％ (10/22),respectively.Conclusion The positive rate on PET of 18F-FDG PET/CT examination in HCC patients with positive MVI is higher than that in HCC patients with negative MVI,and the maximum diameter of tumor is an independent factor predicting MVI of HCC,with a certainly reference value.
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Objective To evaluate preoperative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (eADC) in diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) on microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods We retrospectively reviewed 43 HCC patients with DWI data confirmed by surgery and pathology.ADC and eADC values were measured both in neoplasm and hepatic tissue,the ratio of tumor to liver (T/L) on ADC and eADC was calculated.The correlation between MVI and ADC value,T/L of ADC value,eADC value and T/L of eADC value was analysed,the best cut-off value of variables was analysed by ROC curve,multi factor analysis was carried out by Logistic regression model.Results The ADC value,T/L of ADC,eADC value and T/L of eADC were (1.458 ± 0.444) × 10-3 mm2/s,0.787 ± 0.186,0.289 ± 0.144 and 1.383 (1.179,1.655),respectively.Among them,the positive MVI group were (1.232 ± 0.480) × 10-3 mm2/s,0.683 ± 0.229,0.323 ±0.123 and 1.630(1.387,2.066),respectively.The negative MVI group were(1.545 ±0.404) × 10-3mm2/s,0.844 ±0.149,0.277 ±0.152 and 1.303(1.176,1.545),respectively.There was significant difference in ADC value,T/L of ADC value and T/L of eADC value (t =2.164,2.654,z =-2.058,all P ＜0.05),the area under the ROC curve were (1.085 × 10-3) mm2/s,0.685 and 1.475 using MVI as a diagnostic standard.Multivariate analysis showed that T/L of ADC value was an independent factor affecting MVI of HCC (OR=0.002,95％CI:1.380E-5-0.311,P＜0.05).Conclusions The ADC value in HCC patients with positive MVI is lower than in HCC patients with negative MVI,T/L of eADC value is higher than in HCC patients with negative MVI,and T/L of ADC value is an independent factor predicticing MVI of HCC.
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Objective To summarize the MRI characteristics of fat-containing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 18 patients with fat-containing HCC who were admitted to the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital of the Second Military Medical University between January 2015 and April 2016 were collected.All patients underwent MRI examination.Observation indicators:(1) imaging examination;(2) pathological features;(3) treatment and follow-up.Follow-up using outpatient imaging examination was performed to detect tumor recurrence once at 1 month postoperatively and once every 3 months postoperatively up to December 2016.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as-x±s.Results (1) Imaging examination:plain scans of MRI:of 18 patients,lesions of 9,7 and 2 patients were respectively located in left,right and caudate lobes of liver,and lesions were round-like,with a diameter of 1.6-9.0 cm.Tumors were single,and tumor thrombosis in the hepatic vein was seen in 1 patient.T2WI on fat-suppression of 15 and 3 patients showed respectively high signals and iso-signal;MRI examination showed that out-phase signal on T1WI was variously decreased than in-phase signal,showing focal or diffuse signal decreasing;lipid phase on T1WI showed diffuse distribution in 10 patients,patchy fat-containing regions were scattered within the peritumoral zone in 7 patients,and lipid of 1 patient was located in the central area.Dynamic contrast enhancement MRI showed that fast-in and fast-out,fast-in and slow-out,and slow-in and slow-out types were detected in 16,1 and 1 patients,respectively.Sixteen patients had capsule-like enhancement in delayed phase.Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) showed high signals in 10 patients,slightly high signals in 6 patients and iso-signal in 2 patients.Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value was (1.19± 0.20)×10-3 mm2/s,including (1.37±0.20) × 10-3 mm2/s in lipid-rich type,(1.17±0.13) × 10-3 mm2/s in clear cell type and (1.11±0.17)× 10-3 mm2/s in thick beam type.Of 18 patients,2 were preoperatively misdiagnosed as hepatic angiomyolipoma and 1 as hepatic adenoma.(2) Pathological features:pathological types of 18 patients with fat-containing HCC:5 and 13 patients were respectively in lipid-rich and non-lipid-rich types (4 in clear cell type and 9 in thick beam type);steatosis tumor cells,rich and translucent cytoplasms and large vacuolated lipid droplets were seen under the microscope;steatosis tumor cells were diffused or scattered within the lesions,some of which showed plaque-like performance of different sizes.Degree of microvascular invasion:grade M0,M1 and M2 were found in 12,3 (2 in thick beam type and 1 in clear cell type) and 3 (2 in thick beam type and 1 in lipid-rich type) patients,respectively.(3) Treatment and follow-up:18 patients underwent surgery and were followed up for 6-13 months,with a median time of 8 months.During the follow-up,5 patients in lipid-rich type and 4 in clear cell type had no recurrence;among 9 patients in thick beam type,1 of 4 with microvascular invasion had no recurrence,2 and 1 of 4 with microvascular invasion had respectively recurrence at 3 months postoperatively and 4 months postoperatively,and 5 without microvascular invasion had no recurrence.The lesions of 3 patients with recurrence is single,3 patients received local minimally invasive therapy and continuous follow-up.Conclusion MRI characteristics of fat-containing HCC include that decreased out-phase signal on T1WI compared with in-phase signal,high signal on DWI,low ADC value,fast-in and fast-out enhancement and capsule-like enhancement in delayed phase.
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Objective To compare the MRI manifestations and characteristics of ≤ 3 cm nonepithelial hepatic angiomyolipomas (HAML)and small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC),then improve the preoperative diagnostic accuracy.Methods A retrospective analysis of 20 patients ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML and 26 cases of SHCC,confirmed by clinical pathology,with both in clinical data and MRI characteristics.Results ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML commonly occurs in women;The enhancement patterns“wash in and wash out”in 1 1 cases,6 cases “wash in but slow out”,3 cases with delayed enhancement;Mature adipose tissue found in 5 cases, 3 cases has pseudocapsule enhancemen in delayed phase,13 cases can see central vessels;While SHCC often occurs in men,with“wash in and wash out”enhancement pattern in 23 cases,1 7 cases with pseudocapsule enhancemen in delayed phase,12 cases can see central vessels in lesions.ADC values for SHCC was significantly lower than that for ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML,the ADC values of SHCC significantly lower than the surrounding liver parenchyma;The ADC values between ≤3 cm nonepithelial and liver parenchyma around has no significant differences.ADC values of liver parenchyma with liver cirrhosis was lower than that without cirrhosis.Conclusion The existence of mature adipose tissue,the MRI enhancement pattern and the value of ADC can help to distinguish between ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML and SHCC,then improve the preoperative diagnostic accuracy.
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Objective To investigate the imaging features of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) and to improve the level of awareness of this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the CT and MRI findings and the clinical data of 16 patients with liver EHE.The diagnosis was made on specimens obtained by liver biopsy or with operation.Six patients received only CT,6 only MRI,4 both CT and MRI,and 4 with DWI sequence.Results 6 of 16 patients with hepatic EHE had a solitary tumor while the remaining 10 patients had multiple tumors.CT scanning on 10 patients showed a heterogeneous mass with low density.In 4 patients,there were small calcifications in the lesions.The lesions on MRI showed a heterogeneous mass with low signal in T1WI and high signal in T2WI and DWI.In 8 patients,during enhanced scanning,the intrahepatic vein and its branches terminated at the edge of the tumor to form the lollipop sign. On the arterial phase lesions with a diameter ＞ 3 cm showed a centripetal enhancement pattern,which is similar to that of a haemangioma.Lesions with a diameter ＜ 3 cm showed ring enhancement and continuous annular enhancement in the portal venous phase and in the delayed phase.The best observation period for the number of lesions was in the arterial phase.Conclusion Hepatic EHE had certain distinct characteristics on CT and MRI,e.g.the lollipop sign,lesions with small calcification,lesions with a diameter ＞ 3 cm with a centripetal enhancement pattern,and lesions with a diameter ＜ 3 cm with continuous ring enhancement on CT scanning.These radiological features help in the diagnosis of the disease.
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Objective To evaluate the earlier changes of degeneration discs in vivo using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods From September 2010 to March 2011,88 consecutive outpatients [age 16-63 years,mean age (37 ± 13) years] were enrolled in this study.The excluded criteria were as follows: spinal deformity,spinal tumors and post-operation of spine.The mean diffusion (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values on DTI images of 428 intervertebral discs which without susceptibility artifacts were measured.Fiber track (FT) images of annulus of intervertebral discs were analyzed.MD and FA were also measured on FT.The quartile and median were used to record the nonnormal distribution dates.The Chi-square test statistic was applied by SPSS1 1.0 software package.Results Annulus fibrosis type had closely related to the Pfirrmann grading.Three types were divided based on FT charts of degenerated intervertebral disc.Intact type was noted in 135 discs,Pfirrmann Ⅱ level has a high percentage(92 discs,68.15％) in this type; Scrambled type was noted in 195 discs,Pfirrmann Ⅲ and Ⅳ level were accounted for 63.07％ (123 discs) ; Conglomerate type was noted in 98 discs,the Pfirrmann Ⅳ and Ⅴ level were accounted for 83.68％ (82 discs) (Mantel-Haenszel test,x2 =183.90,P ＜ 0.01).Different annulus types had different MD and FA values.The median(range)of FA of complete,messy and clumps type fibrous ring were 0.32 (0.29-4.35),0.35 (0.33-0.38),0.54 (0.46-0.62).The corresponding median(range)of MD were 12.40(11.50-13.20) x 10-10,11.10(9.92-12.00) × 10-10,6.30(5.03-7.72) × 10-10 mm2/s.Scrambled annulus fibers had lower MD values and higher FA values,which had significant difference (x2 =219.74,243.88,P ＜0.01).Conclusions DTI is a non-invasive method to assess intervertebral disc structural changes in vivo.MD and FA values are helpful to evaluate the intervertebral disc degeneration.
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Objective To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) imaging findings of hepatic angiomyolipoma (AML).Methods Twelve cases of hepatic AML,which were confirmed by pathologists between 2009 and 2011 in our hospital,were retrospectively analyzed.Results There were 3 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.17 years (range,34 to 60 years).There were 14 lesions,8 in left lobe,6 in right lobe.All of 12 cases were confirmed as angiomyolipoma by pathologists.Nine cases were performed with MRI,2 with CT,and 1 with both CT and MRI.The border of lesions were clear in 8 cases.Fat contents were shown on CT and/or MRI in 8 cases.After administrated with contrast medium,the lesion enhancement was still apparent or slightly decreased in 9 lesions from portal phase to delayed phase.The suppression of portal vein and inferior vena cava by tumor were seen in 5 lesions.Abnormal vascular distortion was seen in 6 lesions.None of 12 lesions were found with portal vein thrombosis.Conclusion The diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma should be considered when CT and MRI show good boundaries,intratumoral fat content,delayed lesion enhancement,and vascular distortion.
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Objective To evaluate the synergistic effect of DSA and MSCTA in interventional therapy for lung cancer. Methods Interventional therapy was performed in 46 patients with lung cancer. With real time helical thin slice CT scanning, MSCTA of tumor feeding artery was performed in 26 patients. Images obtained from enhanced MSCT scanning were processed at the console workstation. Spatial anatomical characteristics of tumor feeding artery were observed by using different rotations of view. DSA study and the interventional therapy were followed up in 26 patients with lung cancer. Results All tumor feeding arteries in 26 patients with lung cancer were observed by using VR, MIP and MPR, which could exactly display the origin, course and diameter of the vessels. DSA had a high consistency with MSCTA in displaying the tumor vascularity, tumor stain, and the origin of tumor-feeding artery in the patients who received MSCTA and the interventional therapy. The number of catheter used, the dosage of contrast medium, the sequence of subtraction, the fluoroscopic time and operation time in the group with use of CTA was less than that in the group without use of CTA, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05), while no significant difference in detecting feeding artery existed between two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion The anatomical characteristics of tumor-feeding artery in patients with lung cancer can be stereoscopically and clearly displayed on preoperative routine MSCTA, providing useful information and thus making the interventional procedure more safe and effective. Simultaneous use of DSA and MSCTA is reasonable and practicable, which has synergistic effect in interventional therapy for lung cancer.
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[Objective]To investigate imaginological evidences of hyperxtensive injury of cervical spine and to evaluate its use in clinics.[Method]Seventy-eight patients with hyperextension injury at cervical spine by different cause were estimated by radiograph、CT and MRI.Fifty-seven cases(73.1%) appeared with widen of soft tissue of anteriorspine,including focal type(17.5%) and diffused type(82.5%). Thirty-six cases showed avulsion fracture of anterior edge in the cervical spine. Sixty-three cases showed degeneration and developmental spinal stenosis,twenty-one cases appeared integral vertebral canal. No contrast CT scan showed osteophyte of thirty-seven cases and intervertebral discs degeneration and protrusion of twenty-one cases.Sixty-one cases(78.2%) with both disc and anterior-longitudinal-ligament injury showed by MRI,fifty-seven cases showed haematoma and oedema at the anterior of the vertebral body. Sixty-four cases accompanied with different spinal cord injury.[Result]Obvious imaging feature for hyperextension injury of cervical spine,including anterior longitudinal ligament,intervertebral disc and spinal cord were found.There exists good relationship between spinal cord injury and imaging appearance. Clinically it showed typical central syndrome,but mostly showed us neuron-functional disturbance of different degree.[Conclusion]Combining of imaginological apperarance including radiograph,CT,MRI can provide evidences for diagnosis of hyperextension and help to treat acute hyperextension cervical injury.