Imaging Features of Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Abstract

Purpose Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (f-HCC) is a rare primary liver tumor. Imaging plays an important role in diagnosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of histologically proven f-HCC in comparison to benign focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH).

Materials & Methods 16 patients with histologically proven f-HCC lesions and 30 patients with FNH lesions were retrospectively reviewed regarding CEUS features to determine the malignant or benign nature of the focal liver lesions (FLL). Five radiologists assessed the CEUS enhancement pattern and came to a consensus using the EFSUMB (European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology) guideline criteria.

Results Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma manifested as a single and huge FLL. On CEUS, f-HCC showed heterogeneous hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and hypoenhancement (16/16, 100 %) in the portal venous and late phases (PVLP) as a sign of malignancy. In contrast to the hypoenhancement of f-HCC in the PVLP, all patients with FNH showed hyperenhancement as the most distinctive feature (P < 0.01). 8 f-HCC lesions showed a central scar as an unenhanced area (8/16, 50.0 %), which could also be detected in 53.3 % (16/30) of FNH lesions (P > 0.05).

Conclusion By analyzing the hypoenhancement in the PVLP, CEUS imaging reliably diagnosed f-HCC as a malignant FLL. CEUS also showed differentiation between f-HCC and FNH lesions, showing similar non-enhanced central scars, whereas f-HCC lesions showed peripheral hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and early washout in the PVLP.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Das fibrolamelläre hepatozelluläre Karzinom (f-HCC) ist ein seltener primärer Lebertumor. Die Bildgebung spielt bei der Diagnose eine wichtige Rolle. Ziel dieser retrospektiven Studie war es, die Merkmale im kontrastverstärkten Ultraschall (CEUS) bei histologisch nachgewiesenem f-HCC im Vergleich zur benignen fokalen nodulären Hyperplasie (FNH) zu analysieren.

Material und Methoden 16 Patienten mit histologisch nachgewiesenen f-HCC-Läsionen und 30 Patienten mit FNH-Läsionen wurden retrospektiv auf CEUS-Merkmale untersucht, um die maligne oder benigne Natur der fokalen Leberläsionen (FLL) zu bestimmen. 5 Radiologen bewerteten das CEUS-Enhancement-Muster und kamen zu einem Konsens unter Verwendung der Kriterien der EFSUMB (European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology) -Richtlinien.

Ergebnisse Das fibrolamelläre Leberzellkarzinom manifestierte sich als eine einzige und große FLL. Im CEUS zeigte das f-HCC ein heterogenes Hyperenhancement in der arteriellen Phase und ein Hypoenhancement (16/16, 100 %) in der portalvenösen und späten Phase (PVLP) als Marker für Malignität. Im Gegensatz zum Hypoenhancement des f-HCC in der PVLP zeigten alle Patienten mit FNH ein Hyperenhancement als auffälligstes Merkmal (p < 0,01). 8 f-HCC-Läsionen zeigten eine zentrale Narbe als Bereich ohne Anreicherung (8/16; 50,0 %), welche auch bei 53,3 % (16/30) der FNH-Läsionen nachgewiesen werden konnte (p > 0,05).

Schlussfolgerung Durch die Untersuchung des Hypoenhancements in der PVLP konnte die CEUS-Bildgebung f-HCC zuverlässig als maligne FLL diagnostizieren. Außerdem konnte CEUS zwischen f-HCC und FNH-Läsionen differenzieren und zeigte ähnliche zentrale Narben ohne Anreicherung, wobei f-HCC-Läsionen ein peripheres Hyperenhancement in der arteriellen Phase und ein frühes Wash-out in der PVLP zeigten.

Key words

focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) - differential diagnosis - guidelines - contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) - fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (f-HCC)

Publication History

Received: 06 June 2019

Accepted: 23 December 2019

Article published online:
26 February 2020

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