Size and location of spontaneous portosystemic shunts predict the risk of decompensation in cirrhotic patients.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) has been poorly investigated. AIMS: To evaluate the impact of the presence of SPSS, as well as their characteristics, on the risk of decompensation. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 235 advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) patients with available imaging examination, transient elastography, and upper endoscopy. ACLD was defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) >10 kPa. Competitive risk analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with the main outcome. RESULTS: SPSS were reported in 141 (60%) of the patients. Non-viral etiology was independently associated with SPSS presence [Odds-Ratio (OR): 2.743;95%-Interval-of-Confidence (IC):1.129-6.664]. During a follow-up of 37 (20-63) months, SPSS were found predictors of any decompensation type [Subhazard Ratio (SHR):2.264; 95%-IC:1.259-4.071], independently from a history of decompensation or high-risk-varices presence. The risk of complications was higher in patients with large (SHR: 3.775; 95%-IC: 2.016-7.070) and multiple (SHR:3.832; 95%-IC: 2.004-7.330) shunts, and in those with gastrorenal shunts (SHR:2.636; 95%-IC:1.521-4.569). CONCLUSIONS: The presence, size, and number of SPSS predict not only the risk of hepatic encephalopathy but that of any type of decompensation across all stages of cirrhosis. Future studies should explore the possibility of treating shunts to prevent decompensation.

Validation of a standardized CT protocol for the evaluation of varices and porto-systemic shunts in cirrhotic patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to propose and validate a standardized CT protocol for evaluating all the types of portosystemic collaterals (P-SC), including gastroesophageal varices and spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS), and to evaluate the prognostic role of portal hypertension CT features for the prediction of the hepatic decompensation risk in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 184 advanced chronic liver disease who underwent CT scan between January 2014 and December 2017. Patients with an interval > 6 months between the imaging, elastometric, endoscopic and biochemical evaluation were excluded, as well as patients with previous transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), liver transplantation (LT) or terminal medical conditions. Data on liver disease history, co-morbidities, endoscopic and radiologic findings were collected. The incidence of hepatic decompensation and other events, such as portal vein thrombosis, HCC, TIPS placement, LT, death, and its cause, were also recorded. The procedure was performed at baseline and after the administration of contrast agent using a multiphasic technique and bolus tracking. Two senior radiologists working in different centres and a non-expert radiologist reviewed all CT examinations, to evaluate both intra-observer and inter-observer variability of the CT protocol and to obtain an external validation. The radiological variables were evaluated using both univariate and adjusted multivariate competing risk regression models. RESULTS: Both intra-observer and inter-observer agreement were excellent in detection and measurement of almost all types of P-SC. The presence of SPSS, a spleen diameter > 16 cm, a portal vein diameter > 17 mm and the presence of ascites resulted independent predictors of decompensation-free survival for cirrhotic patients and were incorporated in an easy-to-use score (AUROC = 0.799, p-value = 0.732) which can the risk of decompensation at 5 years, ranking it as low (11.3%), moderate (35.6%) or high (70.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The CT protocol commonly performed during the HCC surveillance program for cirrhotic patients is valid for detecting all types of P-SC. The radiological score identified to predict the decompensation-free survival for cirrhotic patients could be an easy-to-use clinical tool.

Imaging-based diagnosis of benign lesions and pseudolesions in the cirrhotic liver.

Liver cirrhosis is a leading cause of death worldwide, with 1-year mortality rates of up to 57% in decompensated patients. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary tumor in cirrhotic livers and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Annually, up to 8% of patients with cirrhosis develop HCC. The diagnosis of HCC rarely requires histological confirmation: in fact, according to the most recent guidelines, the imaging features of HCC are almost always sufficient for a certain diagnosis. Thus, the role of the radiologist is pivotal because the accurate detection and characterization of focal liver lesions in patients with cirrhosis are essential in improving clinical outcomes. Despite recent technical innovations in liver imaging, several issues remain for radiologists regarding the differentiation of HCC from other hepatic lesions, particularly benign lesions and pseudolesions. It is important to avoid misdiagnosis of benign liver lesions as HCC (false-positive cases) because this diagnostic misinterpretation may lead to ineligibility of a patient for potentially curative treatments or inappropriate assignment of high priority scores to patients on waiting lists for liver transplantation. This review presents a pocket guide that could be useful for the radiologist in the diagnosis of benign lesions and pseudolesions in cirrhotic livers, highlighting the imaging features that help in making the correct diagnosis of macroregenerative nodules; siderotic nodules; arterioportal shunts; hemangiomas, including fast-filling hemangiomas, hemangiomas with pseudowashout, and sclerosed hemangiomas; confluent fibrosis; pseudomasses in chronic portal vein thrombosis; and focal fatty changes.

LI-RADS: a great opportunity not to be missed.

The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) is a widespread comprehensive system for standardising the reporting and data collection of liver imaging to standardise chronic liver disease evaluation. However, the LI-RADS, based on the identification of some categories of lesions by means of a conceptual and nonquantitative probability approach, has many limitations. In fact, recently, the European Association for the Study of the Liver Guidelines regarding the management of hepatocellular carcinoma did not accept the LI-RADS. The aim of this paper was to critically analyse the LI-RADS, focusing on some interesting issues such as the absence of a clear distinction between two different imaging modalities (computed tomography and MRI), the lack of validation of some major features, the assessment of its ancillary features and its complexity. Despite these limitations, the LI-RADS represents a great opportunity for the radiological community. We must not let it escape, but time and experience are necessary for its improvement.