Differential diagnosis between alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis and hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the clinical and MRI features of alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis to compare with those of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) to arrive at a correct differential diagnosis.Methods:The data of 105 patients who underwent liver surgery for alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinomas without cirrhosis at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and the Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Nantong from March 2017 to November 2020 were retrospectively studied. There were 109 lesions in 95 males and 10 females. These patients had the age of (60.2±9.9) years. The data of 88 patients who were diagnosed to have hepatic FNH during the study period were collected, and there were 99 lesions in 36 males and 52 females. These patients had the age of (32.8±9.5) years. Variables including age, history of hepatitis B virus infection, T 1 weighted imaging (T 1WI), T 2 weighted imaging (T 2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), enhancement mode, lesion shape, lesion boundary and capsule were compared between the two groups. Results:The age and the proportion of patients with a history of hepatitis B in the alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma and without cirrhosis group were significantly higher than those in the hepatic FNH group (both P<0.05). The proportion of lesions with quasi-circular shape, clear boundary and with capsule in hepatocellular carcinoma group were significantly higher than those in the hepatic FNH group (all P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the T 1WI, T 2WI, enhancement modes, DWI, and ADC map between the two groups of lesions (all P<0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis by the age >45.5 year, with a history of hepatitis B, with clear lesion boundary, with a "washin and washout" enhanced mode and with lesion encapsulation were 0.97(95% CI 0.95-0.99), 0.79(95% CI 0.72-0.85), 0.78(95% CI 0.72-0.85), 0.94(95% CI 0.90-0.97), 0.99(95% CI 0.98-1.00) respectively. Conclusions:The presence of a capsule, clear lesion boundary and "washin and washout" enhanced mode are helpful in differentiating alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis with hepatic FNH.