CT perfusion study of primary hepatic tumors

Objective To compare and assess CT perfusion parameters and images between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hypervascular benign hepatic tumor (HBHT), and between liver neoplasm and tumor-free hepatic parenchyma by using multi-slice helical CT and liver perfusion software. Methods Hepatic perfusion scans were performed on 30 patients with HCCs, and 22 patients with HBHTs proven pathologically or clinically. Then the values of blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), permeability surface (PS), hepatic arterial fraction (HAF) and time of arrival were calculated, and the perfusion maps for each were created. Results The BF, BV and HAF of HCC lesions were higher than those of the tumor-free hepatic parenchyma (P=0.000, 0.000 and 0.000). The BF and HAF of HBHT lesions were higher than those of the tumor-free hepatic parenchyma (P=0.004 and 0.000). The MTT of HCC lesions and HBHT lesions were shorter than each of the tumor-free hepatic parenchyma (P=0.015 and 0.027), and that of HCC lesions was also shorter than HBHT lesions (P=0.039). The HAF of HCC lesions and tumor-free hepatic parenchyma were higher than those of HBHT lesions and tumor-free hepatic parenchyma (P=0.036 and 0.044), respectively. Conclusion Hepatic perfusion parameters measured by using liver perfusion software cuoldan confirm significant difference not only between hepatic tumor lesions and tumor-free hepatic parenchyma, but also between malignant and benign hepatic tumors.