Diagnostic sensitivity of imaging modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma smaller than 2 cm

AIM:To compare the imaging results with histology and to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of imaging modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)smaller than 2 cm.METHODS:Nodules smaller than 2 cm(n=34)revealed by ultrasonography(US)in 29 patients with liver cirrhosis were analyzed.Histological diagnosis of HCC was performed by ultrasonographic guidance:moderately-differentiated HCC(n=24);well-differentiated HCC(n=10).The patterns disclosed by the four imaging modalities defined the conclusive diagnosis of HCC:(1)contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT),hypervascularity in the arterial phase and washout in the equilibrium phase;(2)Sonazoid contrast-enhanced US(CEUS),hypervascularity in the early vascular phase and defect in the Kupffer phase;(3)gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid(Gd-EOBDTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),hypervascularity in the arterial phase and/or defect in the hepatobiliary phase;and(4)CT arterioportal angiography:hypervascularity by CT during arteriography and/ or perfusion defect by CT during arterial portography.RESULTS:Overall,the sensitivity of diagnosing HCC smaller than 2 cm was 52.9%(18/34)(95%CI:35.170.2)by CECT;67.6%(23/34)(95%CI:49.5-82.6)by Sonazoid CEUS;76.5%(26/34)(95%CI:58.8-89.3) by Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI;and 88.2%(30/34)(95%CI: 72.5-96.7)by CT arterioportal angiography.The diagnostic sensitivity of detecting moderately-differentiated HCC by CECT,Sonazoid CEUS,Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI and CT arterioportal angiography was 62.5%(15/24)(95%CI: 40.6-81.2),79.2%(19/24)(95%CI:57.8-92.9),75.0% (18/24)(95%CI:53.3-90.2)and 95.8%(23/24)(95% CI:78.9-99.9),respectively.A significant difference(P< 0.05)was observed between CECT and CT arterioportal angiography in all nodules.There was no difference between Sonazoid CEUS,Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI,and CT arterioportal angiography.The combined sensitivity of Sonazoid CEUS and Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI was 94.1%(32/34).CONCLUSION:Changing the main diagnostic modality for HCC smaller than 2 cm from CT arterioportal angiography to Sonazoid CEUS and Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI is recommended.

Hepatocellular carcinoma:State of the art diagnostic imaging

Primary liver cancer is the fourth most common malignancy worldwide,with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)comprising up to 90%of cases.Imaging is a staple for surveillance and diagnostic criteria for HCC in current guidelines.Because early diagnosis can impact treatment approaches,utilizing new imaging methods and protocols to aid in differentiation and tumor grading provides a unique opportunity to drastically impact patient prognosis.Within this review manuscript,we provide an overview of imaging modalities used to screen and evaluate HCC.We also briefly discuss emerging uses of new imaging techniques that offer the potential for improving current paradigms for HCC character-ization,management,and treatment monitoring.

Comparative Analysis of CT in the Diagnosis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Nodular Goiter

Objective:To investigate the Computed Tomography(CT)features of papillary thyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter.Methods:Ninety patients were enrolled in this study.All patients were treated with thyroid disease admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to December 2018.Among them,sixty patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma and thirty patients with nodular goiter were examined by CT scan and enhanced examination.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the volume index of left lobe,right lobe and isthmus in thyroid patients(P>0.05).There were significant statistical differences in the growth site,morphology,border,density,calcification and enhancement mode of nodules(P<0.05).Conclusion:CT examination has significant diagnostic value in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and nodular thyroid.

Malignant struma ovarii with papillary carcinoma combined with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis:A case report

BACKGROUND Struma ovarii is a rare specific ovarian tumor.It is a highly differentiated monodermal teratoma with a malignant transformation rate as low as 5%.Thus,malignant transformation and metastasis are extremely rare.The clinical manifestations of this disease are not typical and are easily misdiagnosed.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old female patient had a history of pain in the right hepatic region for approximately 1 year.Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a solid cystic mass in the right adnexal region and a solid mass in the right retroperitoneum.The patient underwent surgical resection,and the combined morphological and immunohistochemical results led to the final diagnosis of right struma ovarii with papillary carcinoma and right retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis.CONCLUSION Malignant struma ovarii with distant metastasis is extremely rare,and the clinical manifestations of this disease are nonspecific.Accurate preoperative diagnoses are difficult to obtain,and pathological examination is the gold standard for diagnosing this disease.

Combined Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma with Stem Cell Features—Case Report

Combined hepatocholangiocarcinoma is a rare and unique form of primary hepatic neoplasm, expressing histopathological and phenotypic aspects of hepatocellularcarcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma in the same tumor. Diagnosis may be performed by imaging, showing typical features of both components. We present a case of a 55-year-old woman presenting with abdominal pain and a hepatic mass. The patient underwent surgery and combined hepatocholangiocarcinoma with stem cells features was confirmed on pathological analysis. There are no signs of recurrence to date. Combined hepatocholangiocarcinoma requires a preoperative diagnosis, since it is a unique entity with higher rates of local and lymph node recurrence, compared to isolated forms.

Diagnosis of bile duct hepatocellular carcinoma thrombus without obvious intrahepatic mass

AIM:To study the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)presenting as bile duct tumor thrombus with no detectable intrahepatic mass.METHODS:Six patients with pathologically proven bile duct HCC thrombi but no intrahepatic mass demonstrated on the preoperative imaging or palpated intrahepatic mass during operative exploration,were collected.Their clinical and imaging data were retrospectively analyzed.The major findings or signs on comprehensive imaging were correlated with the surgical and pathologic findings.RESULTS:Jaundice was the major clinical symptom of the patients.The elevated serum total bilirubin,direct bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase levels were in concordance with obstructive jaundice and the underlying liver disease.Of the 6 patients showing evidence of viral hepatitis,5 were positive for serum alpha fetoprotein and carbohydrate antigen 19-9,and 1 was positive for serum carcinoembryonic antigen.No patient was correctly diagnosed by ultrasound.The main features of patients on comprehensive imaging were filling defects with cup-shaped ends of the bile duct,with large filling defects presenting as casting moulds in the expanded bile duct,hypervascular intraluminal nodules,debris or blood clots in the bile duct.No obvious circular thickening of the bile duct walls was observed.CONCLUSION:Even with no detectable intrahepatic tumor,bile duct HCC thrombus should be considered in patients predisposed to HCC,and some imaging signs are indicative of its diagnosis.

Review of renal cell carcinoma and its common subtypes in radiology

Representing 2%-3% of adult cancers, renal cell carcinoma(RCC) accounts for 90% of renal malignancies and is the most lethal neoplasm of the urologic system. Over the last 65 years, the incidence of RCC has increased at a rate of 2% per year. The increased incidence is at least partly due to improved tumor detection secondary to greater availability of high-resolution cross-sectional imaging modalities over the last few decades. Most RCCs are asymptomatic at discovery and are detected as unexpected findings on imaging performed for unrelated clinical indications. The 2004 World Health Organization Classification of adult renal tumors stratifies RCC into several distinct histologic subtypes of which clear cell, papillary and chromophobe tumors account for 70%, 10%-15%, and 5%, respectively. Knowledge of the RCC subtype is important because the various subtypes are associated with different biologic behavior, prognosis and treatment options. Furthermore, the common RCC subtypes can often be discriminated non-invasively based on gross morphologic imaging appearances, signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images, and the degree of tumor enhancement on dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging examinations. In this article, we review the incidence and survival data, risk factors, clinical and biochemical findings, imaging findings, staging, differential diagnosis, management options and posttreatment follow-up of RCC, with attention focused on the common subtypes.

Radiomics for the detection of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary liver cancer,accounting for about 90%of liver cancer cases.It is currently the fifth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality.Moreover,recurrence of HCC is common.Microvascular invasion(MVI)is a major factor associated with recurrence in postoperative HCC.It is difficult to evaluate MVI using traditional imaging modalities.Currently,MVI is assessed primarily through pathological and immunohistochemical analyses of postoperative tissue samples.Needle biopsy is the primary method used to confirm MVI diagnosis before surgery.As the puncture specimens represent just a small part of the tumor,and given the heterogeneity of HCC,biopsy samples may yield false-negative results.Radiomics,an emerging,powerful,and non-invasive tool based on various imaging modalities,such as computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,ultrasound,and positron emission tomography,can predict the HCC-MVI status preoperatively by delineating the tumor and/or the regions at a certain distance from the surface of the tumor to extract the image features.Although positive results have been reported for radiomics,its drawbacks have limited its clinical translation.This article reviews the application of radiomics,based on various imaging modalities,in preoperative evaluation of HCC-MVI and explores future research directions that facilitate its clinical translation.

Enhancement parameters of contrast-enhanced computed tomography for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Correlation with pathologic grading

BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDA)is a malignancy with a high mortality rate and short survival time.The conventional computed tomography(CT)has been worldwide used as a modality for diagnosis of PDA,as CT enhancement pattern has been thought to be related to tumor angiogenesis and pathologic grade of PDA.AIM To evaluate the relationship between the pathologic grade of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and the enhancement parameters of contrast-enhanced CT.METHODS In this retrospective study,42 patients(Age,mean±SD:62.43±11.42 years)with PDA who underwent surgery after preoperative CT were selected.Two radiologists evaluated the CT images and calculated the value of attenuation at the aorta in the arterial phase and the pancreatic phase(VAarterial and VApancreatic)and of the tumor(VTarterial and VTpancreatic)by finding out four regions of interest.Ratio between the tumor and the aorta enhancement on the arterial phase and the pancreatic phase(TARarterial and TARpancreatic)was figured out through dividing VT arterial by VAarterial and VTpancreatic by VApancreatic.Tumor-to-aortic enhancement fraction(TAF)was expressed as the ratio of the difference between attenuation of the tumor on arterial and parenchymal images to that between attenuation of the aorta on arterial and pancreatic images.The Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analysis were used.RESULTS Forty-two PDAs(23 men and 19 women)were divided into three groups:Welldifferentiated(n=13),moderately differentiated(n=21),and poorly differentiated(n=8).TAF differed significantly between the three groups(P=0.034)but TARarterial(P=0.164)and TARpancreatic(P=0.339)did not.The median value of TAF for poorly differentiated PDAs(0.1011;95%CI:0.01100-0.1796)was significantly higher than that for well-differentiated PDAs(0.1941;95%CI:0.1463-0.3194).CONCLUSION Calculation of TAF might be useful in predicting the pathologic grade of PDA.

Radiological prognosticators of hepatocellular carcinoma treated by hepatectomy

BACKGROUND: Hepatectomy is the main curative treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but postoperative long- term survival is poor. Preoperative radiological features of HCC displayed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging could serve as additional prognostic factors. This study aimed to identify preoperative radiological features of HCC that may be of prognostic significance in hepatectomy. METHODS: Ninety-two patients who underwent hepatectomy for HCC were included in this study. Preoperative radiological features including tumor number, size, location (peripheral, middle, central), portal vein invasion, hepatic vein invasion, and presence of pseudo-capsule were analyzed in relation to survival. RESULTS: With a median follow-up period of 41.7 months, the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 85%, 65% and 58%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that portal vein invasion and absence of pseudo-capsule were significant prognostic factors for overall survival, while all the examined radiological features were prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Multivariate analysis for overall survival found no significant factor. On multivariate analysis for disease-free survival, patients who had tumors with portal vein invasion had poorer survival with a hazard ratio of 2.26 (95% CI, 1.05-4.91; P=0.038) and patients with single nodular HCC or pseudo-capsulated HCC had better survival with a hazard ratio of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.27-0.94; P=0.032) and 0.38 (95% CI, 0.14-0.99; P=0.048), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Demonstrable pseudo-capsule of HCC and solitary HCC on imaging and absence of portal vein invasionare features associated with better disease-free survival after hepatectomy. These features may guide treatment planning for HCC.

Clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in early diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (≤ 2 cm)

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common type of primary liver malignancy.Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)uses contrast microbubbles during ultrasound,allowing the detection and characterization of malignant focal liver lesions with much higher diagnostic accuracy than conventional ultrasound;however,there are few reports focusing on the pattern of enhancement of CEUS for the diagnosis of HCC smaller than 2 cm.AIM To investigate the clinical value of CEUS in the early detection of small HCC with high risk factors.METHODS A total of 395 patients with 632 nodules at high risk of HCC,who underwent regular follow-up at Xuhui Dahua Hospital from January 2007 to December 2021,were retrospectively examined.Conventional ultrasonography combined with CEUS was adopted to analyze the echo,size,location,and enhancement characteristics of benign and malignant nodules,as well as the enhancement methods for HCC with different diameters.RESULTS The follow-up rate and duration were 92.15%(364/395)and 51.28±45.09 mo,respectively.Conventional ultrasonography combined with CEUS revealed 65(11.80%)nodules with a follow-up diagnosis of HCC,19(3.45%)dysplastic nodules,and 467(84.75%)benign cirrhotic hyperplastic nodules.Among 65 cases of confirmed HCC,40(61.54%)were transformed from hypoechoic nodules,9(13.85%)from hyperechoic nodules,and the remaining 16(24.62%)from isoechoic nodules.Significant differences in CEUS characteristics were found among cirrhotic nodules,dysplastic nodules,and HCC nodules at each phase.Significant differences in the enhancement mode were observed between nodules≤1 cm and those 1–2 cm.The smaller the HCC nodule,the later the contrast agent began to flush and the longer the duration of contrast enhancement.CONCLUSION Conventional ultrasonography combined with CEUS could identify small HCC and help monitor patients with an early diagnosis of HCC.Significant differences in the enhancement mode are noted between nodules≤1 cm and those 1–2 cm.

Multidisciplinary perspective of hepatocellular carcinoma: A Pacific Northwest experience

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most rapidly increasing type of cancer in the United States. HCC is a highly malignant cancer, accounting for at least 14000 deaths in the United States annually, and it ranks third as a cause of cancer mortality in men. One major difficulty is that most patients with HCC are diagnosed when the disease is already at an advanced stage, and the cancer cannot be surgically removed. Furthermore, because almost all patients have cirrhosis, neither chemotherapy nor major resections are well tolerated. Clearly there is need of a multidisciplinary approach for the management of HCC. For example, there is a need for better understanding of the fundamental etiologic mechanisms that are involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, which could lead to the development of successful preventive and therapeutic modalities. It is also essential to define the cellular and molecular bases for malignant transformation of hepatocytes. Such knowledge would:(1) greatly facilitate the identification of patients at risk;(2) prompt efforts to decrease risk factors; and(3) improve surveillance and early diagnosis through diagnostic imaging modalities. Possible benefits extend also to the clinical management of this disease. Because there are many factors involved in pathogenesis of HCC,this paper reviews a multidisciplinary perspective of recent advances in basic and clinical understanding of HCC that include: molecular hepatocarcinogenesis, noninvasive diagnostics modalities, diagnostic pathology, surgical modality, transplantation, local therapy and oncological/target therapeutics.

Primary Cutaneous Apocrine Carcinoma of the Neck Involving the Parotid Gland: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Primary cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (PCAC) is a rare skin malignant tumor that originates from areas with a high concentration of apocrine glands. The incidence of PCAC in the neck is relatively low. The age of onset in PCAC ranges from 5 to 70 years old. Clinically, PCAC typically shows up as painless nodules or lumps. In immunohistochemistry, positive expression of CK-7, GCDFP-15, AR, and myoepithelial markers are helpful in the diagnosis of PCAC. This case report pertains to a 59-year-old male of Asian descent. Five years ago, a painless mass was discovered behind his right ear, which grew slowly. This patient was identified as PCAC based on clinical symptoms, pathology, immunohistochemistry, and imaging characteristics. PCAC involved the parotid gland in this case;it is easy to be misdiagnosed as a primary malignant tumor of the parotid gland on imaging. Furthermore, a thorough set of clinical, imaging, pathological, and immunohistochemical examinations must be performed to make a diagnosis because it is challenging to differentiate PCAC from metastatic breast carcinoma. Conclusion: A well-developed multidisciplinary examination is essential because PCAC can be challenging to diagnose and differentiate.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient for Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-analysis

Background and Aims:Microvascular invasion(MVI)is a major risk factor for the early recurrence of hepatocel-lular carcinoma(HCC)and it seriously worsens the prog-nosis.Accurate preoperative evaluation of the presence of MVI could greatly benefit the treatment management and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.The study aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the apparent dif-fusion coefficient(ADC),a quantitative parameter for the preoperative diagnosis MVI in HCC patients.Methods:Original articles about diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and/or intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM)conducted on a 3.0 or 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)system indexed through January 17,2021were collected from MED-LINE/PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE,and the Cochrane Library.Methodological quality was evaluated using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2(QUADAS-2).The pooled sensitivity,specificity,and summary area un-der the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)were calculated,and meta-regression analysis was per-formed using a bivariate random effects model through a meta-analysis.Results:Nine original articles with a total of 988 HCCs were included.Most studies had low bias risk and minimal applicability concerns.The pooled sensitivity,specificity and AUROC of the ADC value were 73%,70%,and 0.78,respectively.The time interval between the index test and the reference standard was identified as a pos-sible source of heterogeneity by subgroup meta-regression analysis.Conclusions:Meta-analysis showed that the ADC value had moderate accuracy for predicting MVI in HCC.The time interval accounted for the heterogeneity.

Imaging features of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas in multi-detector row computed tomography

AIM:To retrospectively evaluate the imaging features of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) in multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT).METHODS: A total of 20 patients with pathologically-confirmed intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) were included in this study. Axial MDCT images combined with CT angiography (CTA) and multiplanar volume reformations (MPVR) or curved reformations (CR) were preoperatively acquired. Two radiologists (Tan L and Wang DB) reviewed all the images in consensus using an interactive picture archiving and communication system. The disputes in readings were resolved through consultation with a third experienced radiologist (Chen KM). Finally, the findings and diagnoses were compared with the pathologic results.RESULTS: The pathological study revealed 12 malignant IPMNs and eight benign IPMNs. The diameters of the cystic lesions and main pancreatic ducts (MPDs) were significantly larger in malignant IPMNs compared with those of the benign IPMNs (P<0.05). The combined-type IPMNs had a higher rate of malignancy than the other two types of IPMNs (P<0.05). Tumors with mural nodules and thick septa had a significantly higher incidence of malignancy than tumors without these features (P<0.05). Communication of side-branch IPMNs with the MPD was present in nine cases at pathologic examination. Seven of them were identified from CTA and MPVR or CR images. From comparison with the pathological diagnosis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MDCT in characterizing the malignancy of IPMN of the pancreas were determined to be 100%, 87.5% and 95%, respectively.CONCLUSION: MDCT with CTA and MPVR or CR techniques can elucidate the imaging features of IPMNs and help predict the malignancy of these tumors.

Advances in application of novel magnetic resonance imaging technologies in liver disease diagnosis

Liver disease is a major health concern globally,with high morbidity and mortality rates.Precise diagnosis and assessment are vital for guiding treatment approaches,predicting outcomes,and improving patient prognosis.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that has been widely used for detecting liver disease.Recent advancements in MRI technology,such as diffusion weighted imaging,intravoxel incoherent motion,magnetic resonance elastography,chemical exchange saturation transfer,magnetic resonance spectroscopy,hyperpolarized MR,contrast-enhanced MRI,and radiomics,have significantly improved the accuracy and effectiveness of liver disease diagnosis.This review aims to discuss the progress in new MRI technologies for liver diagnosis.By summarizing current research findings,we aim to provide a comprehensive reference for researchers and clinicians to optimize the use of MRI in liver disease diagnosis and improve patient prognosis.

BRAF^(V600E) vs. TIRADS in predicting papillary thyroid cancers in Bethesda system Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴ nodules

Objective: Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology(BSRTC) categories Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴaccount for a significant proportion of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) diagnoses. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of BRAF^(V600E) mutation and the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System(TIRADS) classification in differentiating papillary thyroid cancers(PTCs) from benign lesions among BSRTC I, III, and V nodules.Methods: A total of 472 patients with 479 nodules were enrolled in this prospective study. Ultrasound, BRAF^(V600E) mutation testing, and FNAC were performed in each nodule, followed by surgery or regular ultrasound examination.Results: In the BSRTC I category, BRAF^(V600E) showed similar sensitivity, higher specificity, and lower accuracy when compared with TIRADS. In the BSRTC III/V category, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of BRAF^(V600E) were similar to those of TIRADS. In comparison to BRAF^(V600E) alone, the combination of the two methods significantly improved sensitivity(BSRTC Ⅰ:93.6% vs. 67.7%, P < 0.01; BSRTC Ⅲ: 93.8% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.01; BSRTC V: 96.0% vs. 85.3%, P < 0.001). When compared with TIRADS alone, the combination improved sensitivity in BSRTC Ⅰ nodules(93.6% vs. 74.2%, P < 0.05), increased sensitivity and decreased accuracy in BSRTC III nodules(93.8% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.01, 91.0% vs. 93.6%, P < 0.01), and improved both sensitivity and accuracy in BSRTC V nodules(96.0% vs. 82.0%, P < 0.001; 94.2% vs. 81.3%, P < 0.001).Conclusions: BRAF^(V600E) exhibited higher specificity and lower accuracy compared with TIRADS in BSRTC Ⅰ nodules, while the two methods showed similar diagnostic value in BSRTC Ⅲ/Ⅴ nodules. The combination of the two methods distinctly improved sensitivity in the diagnosis of PTCs in BSRTC Ⅰ, Ⅲ, and Ⅴ nodules.

Angio-Computed Tomograph-Guided Immediate Lipiodol Computed Tomograph for Diagnosis of Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma Lesions during Transarterial Chemoembolization

Background： The diagnosis and treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） play a vital role in the prognosis of patients with HCC. The purpose of our study was to evaluate anglo-computed tomography （angio-CT）-guided immediate lipiodol CT （a CT scan performed immediately after transarterial chemoembolization [TACE]） in the diagnosis of potential HCCs ≤1 cm in diameter. Methods： This study retrospectively analyzed 31 patients diagnosed with HCCs after routine imaging （contrast-enhanced CT or magnetic resonance imaging） or pathologic examinations with undefined or undetermined tumor lesions （diameter 〈1 cm） from February 2016 to September 2016. After TACE guided by digital subtraction angiography of the angio-CT system, potential HCC lesions with a diameter ≤1 cm were diagnosed by immediate lipiodol CT. The number of well-demarcated lesions was recorded to calculate the true positive rate. The correlation between the number of small HCCs detected by immediate lipiodol CT and the size of HCC lesions （diameter 〉1 cm） diagnosed preoperatively was analyzed 1 month after TACE. A paired t-test was used to analyze differences in liver function. Pearson analysis was used to analyze correlation. Chi-square test was used to compare the rates. Results： Fifty-eight lesions were detected on preoperative routine imaging examinations in 31 patients including 15 lesions with a diameter ≤ 1 cm. Ninety-one lesions were detected on immediate lipiodol CT, of which 48 had a diameter ≤ 1 cm. After 1 month, CT showed that 45 lesions had lipiodol deposition and three lesions had lipiodol clearance. Correlation analysis showed that the number of small HCCs detected by lipiodol CT was positively correlated with the size of HCC lesions diagnosed by conventional imaging examination （R^2 - 0.54, P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： Immediate lipiodol CT may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of potential HCC lesions with a diameter of ≤1 cm.

Advanced radionuclides in diagnosis and therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver,but early diagnosis and effective treatment are still difficult.With the development of radionuclide applications in medicine,nuclear medicine is playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.Radionuclide-based positron emission tomography-computed tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography molecular imaging are indispensable for assessing progression,staging,differentiation,preoperative planning,postoperative prediction,and evaluation of HCC in clinical applications.Moreover,radionuclide-based endoradiotherapy provides an objective therapeutic strategy for patients with unresectable advanced HCC.This review highlights the application and development of radionuclides in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.More efforts are warranted for the development of advanced radionuclides to make significant contributions in the treatment of HCC.

多模态超声对甲状腺乳头状癌术前中央区域淋巴结转移的评估

目的评估多模态超声检查技术对预测甲状腺乳头状癌(PTC)术前发生中央区域淋巴结转移(CLNM)的准确度。方法选择经手术治疗的甲状腺结节患者108例,其中男性19例,女性89例;年龄20~77岁,平均年龄47.1岁;结节大小1.0~2.6 cm,平均结节大小1.9 cm。全部病例均经病理诊断为PTC,且术前均行多模态超声检测,包括常规二维超声、超声造影(CEUS)技术和微血流成像(MFI)检测技术。按照中央区域淋巴结有无转移,将患者分为非转移组与转移组,记录两组患者的病理特点和超声波特点,分析PTC患者中出现CLNM的独立风险因子。并且绘制受试者工作特性(ROC)曲线,评估其特异度、灵敏度和准确度,并对比了各种诊断模式来评估其准确度。结果经病理诊断,CLNM 43例(39.8%)。Logistic回归分析显示二维超声下结节与被膜接触、结节直径≥0.8 cm、MFI模式下中央型血流分布模式、在CEUS模式下的结节与被膜的接触及向心性灌注等因素是导致CLNM的独立风险因子(P<0.05);多模态超声在预测CLNM风险的准确度显著优于单一的检测模式,其灵敏度、特异度、准确度依次为76.7%、81.5%、80.2%,三者间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论MFI、CEUS和二维超声相结合应用可以更加准确地预测PTC手术前颈部淋巴结的转移情况。