Evaluation in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma with multiphase hepatic CT scan by using a multidetector row helical CT scanner

Objective To evaluate the mult iphase hepatic CT scan for detecting the hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by using multidetector row helical CT (MDCT). Methods Multiphase hepatic CT scan of the liver in 40 patients with HCC was carried out with Marconi 8000 multidetector row helical CT scanner .The early arterial phase scan, late arterial phase scan, and portal venous phase scan were started at 20 s, 34 s, and 80 s after the injection of contrast medium, respectively. The numbers of the detected lesions were calculated in each phase. The density values of the liver and tumor were measured for HCC ≥1 cm, and the density difference values of the liver and tumor in each phase were statistically calculated and analyzed. Results The study showed that a total of 61 lesions was found in 40 cases, and the lesions ≥ 1 cm were 47. The density difference values between hepatic parenchyma and HCC in the 47 lesions were significantly different at the early arterial phase, the late arterial phase, and the portal venous phase ( P 0.05). In the 61 lesions, the detectability of the early arterial phase, the late arterial phase, the double arterial phases, and the portal venous phase was 32%, 87%, 94%, and 82%, respectively. The detective rate of the late arterial phase was much higher than that of the early arterial phase, the significant difference was found between the late arterial phase plus the portal venous phase and the early arterial phase plus the portal venous phase, and no significant statistical difference was revealed between the double arterial phase plus the portal venous phase and the late arterial phase plus the portal venous phase. Conclusion The utility of MSCT scan of the liver has optimized the arterial phase scan protocol. It is possible to scan the entire liver in a real arterial phase and it is very valuable clinically for the detection of HCC.