Onkológia 6/2019
Imaging techniques for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Imaging techniques play an important role in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in the staging of the disease. Among imaging modalities, ultrasound examination (USG), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MR) and scintigraphy (PET) are used in the diagnosis of liver focal disease. The diagnosis of HCC by non-invasive imaging techniques in cirrhotic liver was adopted in 2001 on the basis of evidence of a typical HCC image in dynamic post-contrast examinations (1) and has been fully accepted by the European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL). Diagnosis by contrast enhanced imaging is based on specific vascular disorder and neoangiogenesis in carcinogenesis as well as an increased HCC incidence in cirrhotic liver. Also there is an increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) and combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (HCC/CCC) in cirrhotic liver. Several non-invasive diagnostic algorithms for HCC detection are recommended, in Europe mostly based on EASL recommendations, in the United States the AASLD (American Association for the Study of Liver Disease) determines the algorithms.
Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, radiological imaging techniques, diagnostics, screening, LI-RADS
