Journal List > J Korean Radiol Soc > v.58(1) > 1004587

Jeon, Kim, Choi, Kim, Kim, Lee, Han, and Lee: Comparison of Ferucarbotran-Enhanced MRI and Triple-Phase MDCT for the Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Advanced Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic performance of ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI at 1.5-T with triple-phase multidetector-row helical CT (MDCT) to detect hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

Materials and Methods

Twenty patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (Child's class B:C = 8:12) underwent ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI and triple-phase MDCT prior to liver transplantation. The mean time interval between the two imaging techniques was 18 days (range, 1-35 days). Three radiologists independently reviewed both images on a lesion-by-lesion basis and interpreted them for comparison with the pathologic findings of the explanted livers. As well, the sensitivity and an alternative-free response receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of each technique.

Results

The mean area under the ROC curve (Az) was significantly higher for the triple-phase MDCT (0.766) compared to the ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI (0.675) (p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean sensitivity of the triple-phase MDCT (60.3%) exceeded the ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI (43.1%). The results indicate that the triple-phase MDCT provides significantly greater mean sensitivity than the ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The triple-phase MDCT provided a better diagnostic performance and higher sensitivity than the ferucarbotran-enhanced MRI for the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

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