Evaluation of the major features of liver imaging reporting and data system using Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI based on subtraction technique / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the incremental value of subtraction technique in evaluating the major features of liver reporting and data system version 2018 (LI-RADS v2018) on gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) enhanced MRI.Methods:The Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI of 117 pathologically verified hepatocellualr carcinoma(HCC) from 87 high-risk patients in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2019 to July 2020 was analyzed retrospectively. The major features of LI-RADS in arterial phase, portal venous phase, subtraction and combined images were evaluated including nonrim arterial phase hyperenhancement (Nonrim APHE), nonperipheral washout and enhancing capsule. The lesions were graded according to LI-RADS v2018. According to the lesion size (<20 mm, ≥20 mm) and T 1WI signal intensity (hypointensity, isointensity or hyperintensity), the patients were divided into different subgroups. Cochran′s Q test was used for the comparison of the detection rate of the major features of LI-RADS and the accurate diagnosis rate based on LR-5 as the diagnostic standard among multiple groups. McNemar test was used for the comparison between two groups. Results:For all HCC, hypointensity HCC and HCC ≥20 mm, the detection rate of Nonrim APHE (χ2=12.190, 12.500, 10.083, all P<0.001) and the accurate diagnosis rate of HCC (χ2=14.450, 12.500, 10.083, all P<0.001) of subtraction images from arterial phase were significantly higher than that of arterial images. For HCC<20 mm, the detection rate of Nonrim APHE combined with arterial phase images was significantly higher than that in arterial phase images (χ2=5.143, P=0.016). For all HCC and isointensity or hyperintensity HCC, the detection rate of nonperipheral washout combined with portal venous phase images was higher than that in portal venous phase images (χ2=7.111, 6.125, P=0.004, 0.008). The detection rate of enhancing capsule of subtraction images from portal venous phase was higher than that of portal venous phase images in all groups (all P<0.017). The accurate diagnosis rate of subtraction images from portal venous phase in all HCC and HCC≥20 mm was higher than that in portal venous phase images (χ2=6.722, 6.750, P=0.008, 0.006). The accurate diagnosis rate of LR-5 in all groups using subtraction images from arterial phase and portal venous phase was higher than that of MRI images (all P<0.013). Conclusion:For Gd-EOB-DTPA dynamic enhanced MRI, subtraction images from arterial phase and portal venous phase are better than arterial phase and portal venous phase images in displaying Nonrim APHE, nonperipheral washout and enhancing capsule, which can improve the LI-RADS classification of HCC.