Correlation of Qualitative and Quantitative Characteristics of Contrast-Enhanced Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Hepatospecific Contrast Agent Gadoxetic Acid (Primovist) and Histopathological Differentiations in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between qualitative and quantitative characteristics of contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging with hepatospecific contrast agent gadoxetic acid (primovist) and histopathological differentiations in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: This study included 32 consecutive naïve patients with needle biopsy-proven hepatocellular carcinoma. All patients were divided into 2 groups: those with well-differentiated tumors and those with moderately/poorly differentiated tumors. Pre-contrast and post-contrast signal intensities, relative signal intensity ratios, and enhancement ratios of tumors were determined during the hepatobiliary phase of magnetic resonance imaging.

Results: There were no significant differences between 2 groups regarding patients’ age (P = .657), gender (P=.589), chronic hepatitis etiology (P = .665), α-fetoprotein levels (P = .156), Child-Pugh classes (P = .166), contrast-enhancing pattern (P = .479), visually registered signal intensities (P = .228), and mean pre-contrast relative signal intensity ratios (P = .444). Mean post-contrast relative signal intensity ratios and enhancement ratios of well-differentiated tumors were significantly higher compared to moderately/poorly differentiated tumors’ values (P = .017 and P = .014, respectively). The test power of quantitative properties was calculated as good (area under curve for post-contrast relative signal intensity ratio by 0.74, sensitivity by 73%, and specificity by 76%; area under curve for enhancement ratio by 0.71, sensitivity by 82%, and specificity by 76%)).

Conclusion: The quantitative but not qualitative parameters of hepatocellular carcinoma detected during hepatobiliary phase of contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging with gadoxetic acid (primovist) may provide objective and predictive information in terms of the differentiation between welldifferentiated and moderately/poorly differentiated tumors.

Cite this article as: Aikimbaev K, Tuğsan Ballı H, Eren Erdoğan et. al. Correlation of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging with hepatospecific contrast agent gadoxetic acid (primovist) and histopathological differentiations in hepatocellular carcinoma. Current Research in MRI. 2022;1(3):71-78.