MRI features for stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 peripheral cholangiocarcinoma of the liver / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the MR imaging appearances in a series of patients with stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 peripheral cholangiocarcinoma of the liver and to differentiate these tumors from hepatic metastases and from other solitary necrotic nodules.Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on MR examinations of 26 patients with histologically confirmed choangiocarcinoma.The imaging findings were compared with those of 2 non-choangiocarcinoma groups including 23 patients with metastasis and 29 patients with solitary necrotic nodules confirmed with surgery,biopsy or follow-up imagings.Statistical analysis included Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and the use of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results Peripheral choangiocarcinomas in stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 were less than or equal to 3 cm in diameter (10 patients,≤2 cm and 16 patients,2 cm).Common findings for cholangiocarcinoma were defined margins (n =22,85％),slightly high signal on T2W1 (n =23,88％),patchy enhancement (n =20,77％),“fill-in” enhancement from periphery toward the center (n =21,81％) and diffuse hypointensity at the periphery and center of tumor (n =9,35％).There were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05) between the choangiocarcinoma group and the non-cholangiocarcinoma group in the above imaging findings.The area under the curve (Az) for differentiating peripheral cholangiocarcinoma was 0.896 ± 0.037,sensitivity was 84.6％,and specificity was 86.5％.Conclusions Our data indicated that MRI features of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma in stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 could be determined.MR imaging,when combined with clinical and biochemical data,provided reliable information to diagnose peripheral cholangiocarcinoma.