TY - JOUR
T1 - Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and ultrasound-guided liver biopsy to diagnose dysplastic liver nodules in cirrhosis
AU - Iavarone, Massimo
AU - Manini, Matteo Angelo
AU - Sangiovanni, Angelo
AU - Fraquelli, Mirella
AU - Forzenigo, Laura Virginia
AU - Di Tommaso, Luca
AU - Aghemo, Alessio
AU - Roncalli, Massimo
AU - Ronchi, Guido
AU - Colombo, Massimo
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - Background: Dysplastic nodules in cirrhosis herald a very high risk of transition to hepatocellular carcinoma. A better understanding of the relationships between dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma development may help refining strategies of enhanced follow-up. Methods: All consecutive cirrhotics with a histologically proven de novo dysplastic nodule, were retrospectively identified and underwent alternating abdominal ultrasound and contrast-computed tomography every 3 months. An ultrasound-guided liver biopsy was the diagnostic gold standard, whereas surveillance and recall policies were according to current guidelines. Results: Among 36 patients with dysplastic nodule (21 low-grade, 15 high-grade, 17.4±2.6 mm), 17 (47%) showed arterial wash-in, 15 (42%) portal/venous hypodensity whereas 4 (11%) had neither pattern. During 6-128 (median 36) months, 21 patients developed a hepatocellular carcinoma at a rate of 13.8% per year, intranodular. =8.7% vs extranodular. =7.1% per year. Hepatocellular carcinoma occurred more frequently in high-grade than low-grade dysplastic nodules (32.2% vs 9.3% per year, p=0.0039); the maximum time to hepatocellular carcinoma transformation was 27 months for intranodular vs 67 months for extranodular tumours (p=0.025). No contrast-computed tomography pattern predicted neoplastic transformation of dysplastic nodules. Conclusion: The histological examination of liver nodules in cirrhosis lacking the imaging hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma improves both prognostication and outcome of surveillance, since it dictates the intensity of the radiological follow-up.
AB - Background: Dysplastic nodules in cirrhosis herald a very high risk of transition to hepatocellular carcinoma. A better understanding of the relationships between dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma development may help refining strategies of enhanced follow-up. Methods: All consecutive cirrhotics with a histologically proven de novo dysplastic nodule, were retrospectively identified and underwent alternating abdominal ultrasound and contrast-computed tomography every 3 months. An ultrasound-guided liver biopsy was the diagnostic gold standard, whereas surveillance and recall policies were according to current guidelines. Results: Among 36 patients with dysplastic nodule (21 low-grade, 15 high-grade, 17.4±2.6 mm), 17 (47%) showed arterial wash-in, 15 (42%) portal/venous hypodensity whereas 4 (11%) had neither pattern. During 6-128 (median 36) months, 21 patients developed a hepatocellular carcinoma at a rate of 13.8% per year, intranodular. =8.7% vs extranodular. =7.1% per year. Hepatocellular carcinoma occurred more frequently in high-grade than low-grade dysplastic nodules (32.2% vs 9.3% per year, p=0.0039); the maximum time to hepatocellular carcinoma transformation was 27 months for intranodular vs 67 months for extranodular tumours (p=0.025). No contrast-computed tomography pattern predicted neoplastic transformation of dysplastic nodules. Conclusion: The histological examination of liver nodules in cirrhosis lacking the imaging hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma improves both prognostication and outcome of surveillance, since it dictates the intensity of the radiological follow-up.
KW - Cirrhosis
KW - CT-scan
KW - Hepatocellular carcinoma
KW - Liver cell dysplasia
KW - Ultrasound
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U2 - 10.1016/j.dld.2012.08.009
DO - 10.1016/j.dld.2012.08.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 23022425
AN - SCOPUS:84871620064
VL - 45
SP - 43
EP - 49
JO - Digestive and Liver Disease
JF - Digestive and Liver Disease
SN - 1590-8658
IS - 1
ER -