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Relationship Between Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histological Tumor Grading of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  • Hepatobiliary Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Intrahepatic and extrahepatic recurrence remains a significant problem for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for histological tumor grading and preoperative prediction of early HCC recurrence within 6 months of operation.

Methods

A total of 44 patients who had undergone hepatic resection for HCC (50 nodules) were reviewed retrospectively. DWI was performed within 30 days before hepatectomy, and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured using 2 methods: mean ADC and minimum-spot ADC. Relationships between ADCs and histological differentiation and between ADCs and early recurrence of HCC were analyzed.

Results

Mean ADC was significantly lower in poorly differentiated HCC (n = 18, 1.07 ± 0.15 × 10−3 mm2/s) than in moderately differentiated HCC (n = 29, 1.29 ± 0.21 × 10−3 mm2/s; P < .05). Minimum-spot ADC was significantly lower in poorly differentiated HCC (n = 18, 0.69 ± 0.19 × 10−3 mm2/s) than in well-differentiated HCC (n = 3, 1.15 ± 0.10 × 10−3 mm2; P < .01) or in moderately differentiated HCC (n = 29, 0.98 ± 0.18 × 10−3 mm2/s; P < .0001). Of 34 patients who were able to be observed for >6 months after resection, 9 showed early recurrence. Minimum-spot ADC was significantly lower in patients with early recurrence (n = 9, 0.64 ± 0.24 × 10−3 mm2/s) than in patients without early recurrence (n = 25, 0.88 ± 0.19 × 10−3 mm2/s; P < .05). On multivariate analysis, minimum-spot ADC was a significant risk factor for early recurrence (P < .05).

Conclusion

Quantitative measurement of ADC of HCC with magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging is a promising functional imaging tool in the prediction of histological grade and early recurrence before treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Mitsuru Nakanishi MD, PhD, Makoto Chuma MD, PhD, Shuhei Hige MD, PhD, Mototsugu Kato MD, PhD & Masahiro Asaka MD, PhD

  2. Center Hospital for Charged Particle Therapy, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan

    Tokuhiko Omatsu MD, PhD

  3. Department of General Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Hideki Yokoo MD, PhD, Kazuaki Nakanishi MD, PhD & Toshiya Kamiyama MD, PhD

  4. Department of Surgical Pathology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Kanako Kubota MD, PhD, Hironori Haga MD, PhD & Yoshihiro Matsuno MD, PhD

  5. Department of Radiology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan

    Yuya Onodera MD, PhD

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  1. Mitsuru Nakanishi MD, PhD
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  2. Makoto Chuma MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitsuru Nakanishi MD, PhD.

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Nakanishi, M., Chuma, M., Hige, S. et al. Relationship Between Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histological Tumor Grading of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 19, 1302–1309 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-2066-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-2066-8

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