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Intrahepatic peripheral cholangiocarcinoma in cirrhosis patients may display a vascular pattern similar to hepatocellular carcinoma on contrast‐enhanced ultrasound
Author(s) -
Vilana Ramón,
Forner Alejandro,
Bianchi Luis,
GarcíaCriado Ángeles,
Rimola Jordi,
Rodríguez de Lope Carlos,
Reig María,
Ayuso Carmen,
Brú Concepció,
Bruix Jordi
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.23600
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatology , cirrhosis , washout , radiology , ultrasound , contrast enhanced ultrasound , magnetic resonance imaging , biopsy , nodule (geology) , homogeneous , peripheral , liver biopsy , carcinoma , pathology , biology , paleontology , physics , thermodynamics
The aim of this study was to describe the imaging features by contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in cirrhosis patients. We registered the CEUS images of cirrhosis patients with histologically confirmed ICC. In all cases magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done to confirm the diagnosis and/or staging purposes. A total of 21 patients met all the criteria to be included in the study. The median nodule size was 32 mm. All nodules showed contrast enhancement at arterial phase; in 10 cases it was homogeneous and in 11 cases peripheral (rim‐like). All nodules displayed washout during the venous phases; it appeared during the first 60 seconds in 10 nodules, between 60‐120 seconds in five cases, and in six cases after 2 minutes. Ten nodules (five larger than 2 cm) displayed homogeneous contrast uptake followed by washout and they correspond to the specific pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma according to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases criteria. However, none of these lesions displayed washout on MRI. Conclusion : CEUS should not be used as the sole imaging technique for conclusive hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and if the MRI does not display the diagnostic vascular pattern, a confirmatory biopsy is mandatory. Hepatology 2010;51:2020–2029