Diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous core biopsy before cryoablation for small-sized renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively determine the diagnostic accuracy of a percutaneous core biopsy performed before cryoablation for small-sized renal cell carcinoma. METHODS: In this study, 216 patients underwent a percutaneous core biopsy for 242 renal lesions suspected to be renal cell carcinoma on image findings before cryoablation at Kyushu University Hospital. We calculated the success rate of the histological diagnosis and investigated factors that may have contributed to the diagnostic success. Complications caused by the biopsy procedure were also evaluated. RESULTS: The histological diagnosis was successful in 203 lesions (82.8%). The success rate of the histological diagnosis was 65.4% (34/52 cases) for tumors with a diameter of ≤15 mm and 88.9% (169/190 cases) for those >15 mm. Therefore, tumor diameter was a factor contributing to the histological diagnosis success rate in both univariate and multivariable analyses (P < 0.001). For lesions with a tumor diameter ≤15 mm, the histological diagnosis success rates increased from 50.0% to 76.2% in the presence of pre-lipiodol marking and to 85.7% when the biopsy procedure was performed separately from cryoablation; the latter was statistically significant (P = 0.039). Major complications that may have been caused by the biopsy procedure were grade 3 bleeding and tract seeding (one case each). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous core biopsy in cryoablation for small-sized renal cell carcinoma had a high diagnostic rate and was safely performed. For lesions with a tumor diameter ≤15 mm, a separate biopsy procedure and pre-lipiodol marking may improve the diagnostic accuracy.

Quantitative classification of invasive and noninvasive breast cancer using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the mammary gland.

Objectives: Breast cancers are classified as invasive or noninvasive based on histopathological findings. Although time-intensity curve (TIC) analysis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can differentiate benign from malignant disease, its diagnostic ability to quantitatively distinguish between invasive and noninvasive breast cancers has not been determined. In this study, we evaluated the ability of TIC analysis of dynamic MRI data (MRI-TIC) to distinguish between invasive and noninvasive breast cancers. Material and Methods: We collected and analyzed data for 429 cases of epithelial invasive and noninvasive breast carcinomas. TIC features were extracted in washout areas suggestive of malignancy. Results: The graph determining the positive diagnosis rate for invasive and noninvasive cases revealed that the cut-off θi/ni value was 21.6° (invasive: θw > 21.6°, noninvasive: θw ≤ 21.6°). Tissues were classified as invasive or noninvasive using this cut-off value, and each result was compared with the histopathological diagnosis. Using this method, the accuracy of tissue classification by MRI-TIC was 88.6% (380/429), which was higher than that using ultrasound (73.4%, 315/429). Conclusion: MRI-TIC is effective for the classification of invasive vs. noninvasive breast cancer.

Diagnostic potential of T1ρ and T2 relaxations in assessing the severity of liver fibrosis and necro-inflammation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of T1ρ and T2 relaxations for assessing the severity of liver fibrosis (F stage) and necro-inflammation (A stage) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We calculated T1ρ and T2 relaxations of the liver parenchyma in 82 patients who underwent liver surgery. F and A stages of enrolled patients were assessed by referring to surgically resected specimens. The relationships between T1ρ or T2 relaxation and F or A stage were assessed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test, Spearman's rank correlation test and a receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: The T1ρ and T2 values of the liver parenchyma were significantly increased as the F and A stages progressed. The T1ρ and T2 values showed significant differences between F0 and F4, between F1 and F4, and between F2 and F4. In addition, T1ρ values showed a significant difference between F0 and F3 as well. The highest diagnostic ability for fibrosis was obtained when differentiating ≥F3 from ≤F2 using T1ρ: the sensitivity was 82.8%, the specificity 79.2% and the area under the curve (AUC) 0.87. The sensitivity and AUC of T1ρ relaxation (46.9% and 0.67) were significantly higher than those of T2 relaxation (29.7% and 0.60) for differentiating ≥A1 from A0. CONCLUSION: T1ρ and T2 relaxations have potential as a biochemical marker for assessing the severity of liver fibrosis and necro-inflammation. T1ρ relaxation may be slightly superior to T2 relaxation in terms of diagnostic ability for liver fibrosis and necro-inflammation.

Improvement of Image Quality Using Hybrid Iterative Reconstruction with Noise Power Spectrum Model in Computed Tomography During Hepatic Arteriography.

OBJECTIVES: In CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA), the addition of a noise power spectrum (NPS) model to conventional hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) may improve spatial resolution and reduce image noise. This study aims at assessing the image quality provided by HIR with a NPS model at CTHA. METHODS: This institutional review board-approved retrospective analysis included 26 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) who underwent CTHA. In all acquisitions, images were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive iterative dose reduction 3D (AIDR), and AIDR enhanced (eAIDR) with the NPS model. Four radiologists analyzed the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of HCC nodules and its associated feeding arteries. The radiologists used a semiquantitative scale (-3 to +3) to rate the subjective image quality comparing both the FBP and eAIDR images with the AIDR images. RESULTS: The feeding arteries' attenuation was significantly higher in eAIDR compared to AIDR [514.3 ± 121.4 and 448.3 ± 107.3 Hounsfield units (HU), p < 0.05]. The image noise of eAIDR was significantly lower than that of FBP (15.2 ± 2.2 and 28.5 ± 4.8 HU, p < 0.05) and comparable to that of AIDR. The SNR of feeding arteries on eAIDR was significantly higher than on AIDR (34.1 ± 7.9 and 27.4 ± 6.3, p < 0.05). Subjective assessment scores showed that eAIDR provided better visibility of feeding arteries and overall image quality compared to AIDR (p < 0.05). The HCC nodule visibility was not significantly different among the three reconstructions. CONCLUSION: In CTHA, eAIDR improved the visibility of feeding arteries associated with HCC nodules without compromising nodule detection.

Hemodynamic Alteration in the Liver in Acute Hepatitis: A Quantitative Evaluation Using Computed Tomographic Perfusion.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to elucidate the hemodynamic alterations in the liver of patients with acute hepatitis (AH) using computed tomography perfusion imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For 14 patients with AH and nine patients with no disease (ND group), we compared the mean arterial blood flow (AF), portal blood flow (PF) and perfusion index (%) [PI=AF/(AF+PF) ×100] of the right and left liver lobes and investigated their relationship with clinical factors. RESULTS: The mean PI of the right lobe in the AH group (30.5±10.0%) was significantly higher than that in the ND group (20.8±9.7%) (p=0.031). For all patients of the AH and ND groups, the PI of the right lobe was increased as the prothrombin time decreased (R=-0.56, p=0.006) and as the prothrombin time-international normalized ratio increased (R=0.48, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The PI of the right liver lobe may increase in AH and may be a predictive parameter for the severity of hepatic failure.

Utility of Tissue Classification in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma using Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Mammary Gland.

OBJECTIVES: In Japan, invasive ductal carcinomas, which account for 75% of breast cancer cases, are sub-classified as solid, tubule-forming, scirrhous, and other types based on the histopathological findings. Although time-intensity curve (TIC) analysis of magnetic resonance (MR) images has shown diagnostic ability in differentiating benign and malignant tumors, its ability to diagnose different tumor tissue types has not yet been achieved. In this study, we report a histological classification of invasive ductal carcinoma using the TIC analysis of dynamic MR images of the mammary gland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 312 invasive ductal carcinomas were analyzed, and each tissue type that indicated malignancy in the washout parts of the tumors was classified and characterized using the TIC. RESULTS: The tissue was classified, and the results were then compared to the pathohistological diagnosis. Using this method, the accuracy of tissue classification by quantitative analysis of TIC-MR images was 86.9% (271/312), which was higher than that obtained by ultrasonography 68.9% (215/312). CONCLUSION: This method is effective for classifying tissue types in invasive ductal carcinoma.

Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis by dual-layer spectral detector CT.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the diagnostic ability of liver fibrosis using (1) liver parenchymal iodine density on equilibrium computed tomographic imaging and (2) extracellular volume (ECV) measured by dual-layer spectral detector CT. METHODS: From April 2018 to June 2019, 68 patients [mean age, 62 years; 39 males, 29 females] underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced CT by a dual-layer spectral detector CT system before liver transplantation or liver resection. The iodine densities of liver parenchyma (I liver) and aorta (I aorta) were independently measured by two radiologists at the equilibrium phase. The iodine-density ratio (I-ratio) (I liver/ I aorta) and the CT-ECV were calculated. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship between the I-ratio or the CT-ECV and the fibrosis stage. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of the I-ratio and the CT-ECV for discriminating fibrosis stages. RESULTS: For both readers, the I-ratio and the CT-ECV increased significantly as the fibrosis stage advanced (I-ratio: rho = 0.380 and 0.443, p < 0.01; CT-ECV: rho = 0.423 and 0.469, p < 0.01). The CT-ECV showed better diagnostic accuracy for staging fibrosis, and the area under the ROC curve values for discriminating F4 stage were 0.884 and 0.925. The two readers' cutoff values of the CT-ECV for diagnosing fibrosis as F4 were 26.2 % and 29.3 %, with 95.0 % and 90.0 % sensitivity and 72.9 % and 85.4 % specificity, respectively. CONCLUSION: The liver parenchymal iodine density on the equilibrium phase and the CT-ECV can be useful for predicting a high stage of liver fibrosis.

Cryoablation for Secondary Renal Cell Carcinoma After Surgical Nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes of cryoablation for secondary renal cell carcinoma for patients with a history of nephrectomy for initial renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with 40 renal tumors who had undergone a nephrectomy for initial renal cell carcinoma and cryoablation for renal cell carcinoma as a secondary treatment during the period from April 2014 to December 2018 at a single center institution were enrolled. The patients' overall survival, local control, relapse-free survival, change of renal function, and complications were evaluated. The clinical factors of relapse-free survival were also evaluated. RESULTS: The 5 year overall survival rate was 94.5%, the 5 year local control rate was 89.3%, and the 5 year relapse-free survival rate (RFSR) was 56.3%. There was an average reduction in renal function of 8.5% after 1 year, and > grade 3 complications occurred in only one case. The RFSR in the patients whose initial stage was T3 was 0%, significantly lower than the 70.4% RFSR in the patients whose initial stage was T1 or T2. CONCLUSION: Cryoablation for secondary renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy was safe and provided good local control with preserved renal function. However, the indications for cryoablation should be carefully considered for patients with T3-stage initial renal cell carcinoma, because of the high risk of relapse. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Correction to: Post-transplant inflow modulation for early allograft dysfunction after living donor liver transplantation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Post-transplant inflow modulation for early allograft dysfunction after living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: To treat small-for-size syndrome (SFSS) after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), many procedures were described for portal flow modulation before, during, or after transplantation. The selection of the procedure as well as the best timing remains controversial. CASE PRESENTATION: A 43-year-old female with end-stage liver disease underwent LDLT with extended left with caudate lobe graft from her donor who was her 41-year-old brother (graft volume/standard liver volume (GV/SLV), 35.7%; graft to recipient weight ratio (GRWR), 0.67%). During the surgery, splenectomy could not be performed owing to severe peri-splenic adhesions to avoid the ruined bleedings. The splenic artery ligation was not also completely done because it was dorsal to the pancreas and difficult to be approached. Finally, adequate portal vein (PV) inflow was confirmed after portal venous thrombectomy. As having post-transplant optional procedures that are accessible for PV flow modulation, any other procedures for PV modulation during LDLT were not done until the postoperative assessment of the graft function and PV flow for possible postoperative modulation of the portal flow accordingly. Postoperative PV flow kept as high as 30 cm/s. By the end of the 1st week, there was a progressive deterioration of the total bilirubin profile (peak as 19.4 mg/dL) and ascitic fluid amount exceeded 1000 mL/day. Therefore, splenic artery embolization was done effectively and safely on the 10th postoperative day (POD) to reverse early allograft dysfunction as PV flow significantly decreased to keep within 20 cm/s and serum total bilirubin levels gradually declined with decreased amounts of ascites below 500 mL on POD 11 and thereafter. The patient was discharged on POD 28 with good condition. CONCLUSIONS: SFSS can be prevented or reversed by the portal inflow modulation, even by post-transplant procedure. This case emphasizes that keeping accessible angiographic treatment options for PV modulation, such as splenic artery embolization, after LDLT is quite feasible.

Amide proton transfer imaging to predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The amount of proteins and peptides can be estimated with amide proton transfer (APT) imaging. Previous studies demonstrated the usefulness of APT imaging to predict tumor malignancy. We determined whether APT imaging can predict the tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). METHODS: Seventeen patients with LARC who underwent a pretherapeutic magnetic resonance examination including APT imaging and NAC (at least two courses) were enrolled. The APT-weighted imaging (WI) signal intensity (SI) (%) was defined as magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym ) at the offset of 3.5 ppm. Each tumor was histologically evaluated for the degree of degeneration and necrosis and then classified as one of five histological Grades (0, none; 1a, less than 1/3; 1b, 1/3 to 2/3; 2, more than 2/3; 3, all). We compared the mean APTWI SIs of the tumors between the Grade 0/1a/1b (low-response group) and Grade 2/3 (high-response group) by Student's t-test. We used receiver operating characteristics curves to determine the diagnostic performance of the APTWI SI for predicting the tumor response. RESULTS: The mean APTWI SI of the low-response group (n = 12; 3.05 ± 1.61%) was significantly higher than that of the high-response group (n = 5; 1.14 ± 1.13%) (P = 0.029). The area under the curve for predicting the tumor response using the APTWI SI was 0.87. When ≥2.75% was used as an indicator of low-response status, 75% sensitivity and 100% specificity of the APTWI SI were obtained. CONCLUSION: Pretherapeutic APT imaging can predict the tumor response to NAC in patients with LARC.

Neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas with rhabdoid feature.

Imaging of a 53-year-old Japanese man revealed two tumors in the liver and a tumor in the head of the pancreas with a swelling lymph node. A needle biopsy for the liver tumors was performed, revealing a neuroendocrine tumor. Enucleation, lymphadenectomy, and partial hepatectomy were performed. The microscopic examination identified many tumor cells with intracytoplasmic inclusions arranged in a nested, cord, or tubular fashion. The intracytoplasmic inclusions displayed densely eosinophilic globules and displaced the nuclei toward the periphery, which constitutes "rhabdoid" features. The tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin and weakly positive for NCAM, but negative for chromogranin A. Epithelial markers (AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2) accentuated intracytoplasmic globules. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with rhabdoid features are very rare. Generally, rhabdoid features are aggressive and dedifferentiated characteristics of various types of tumor. Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors containing rhabdoid cells tend to display extrapancreatic spread at the time of presentation, although some of these tumors with rhabdoid features are not always associated with aggressive behavior.

Amide proton transfer imaging can predict tumor grade in rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To prospectively investigate the ability of amide proton transfer (APT) imaging, in comparison with that of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), to predict pathological factors in rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients who underwent MR examination including APT imaging and DWI for evaluation of rectal cancer were enrolled. APT signal intensity (SI) was defined as the magnetization transfer asymmetry at 3.5 ppm and was mapped. An apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map was generated using b-values of 0, 500 and 1000 s/mm2. APT SI and ADC were calculated by placing regions-of-interest in the tumors on these maps. Pathological factors including tumor size and tumor grade were also evaluated. Average APT SIs or ADCs were compared between the two groups classified based on each pathological factor using Student's t-test. RESULTS: The average APT SI of tumors with diameters of 5 cm or more (3.09 ±â€¯1.41%) was significantly higher than that of tumors with diameters < 5 cm (1.83 ±â€¯1.38%). In addition, the average APT SI of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (2.82 ±â€¯1.51%) was significantly higher than that of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (1.24 ±â€¯0.57%). There was no difference in ADC between groups classified based on any pathological factor. CONCLUSION: Amide proton transfer imaging can predict tumor grade in rectal cancer.

[Development of a Computer-aided Diagnosis System to Distinguish between Benign and Malignant Mammary Tumors in Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Images: Automatic Detection of the Position with the Strongest Washout Effect in the Tumor].

We propose a computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) system that uses time-intensity curves to distinguish between benign and malignant mammary tumors. Many malignant tumors show a washout pattern in time-intensity curves. Therefore, we designed a program that automatically detects the position with the strongest washout effect using the technique, such as the subtraction technique, which extracts only the washout area in the tumor, and by scanning data in 2×2 pixel region of interest (ROI). Operation of this independently developed program was verified using a phantom system that simulated tumors. In three cases of malignant tumors, the washout pattern detection rate in images with manually set ROI was ≤6%, whereas the detection rate with our novel method was 100%. In one case of a benign tumor, when the same method was used, we checked that there was no washout effect and detected the persistent pattern. Thus, the distinction between benign and malignant tumors using our method was completely consistent with the pathological diagnoses made. Our novel method is therefore effective for differentiating between benign and malignant mammary tumors in dynamic magnetic resonance images.

Renal function and urological complications after radical hysterectomy with postoperative radiotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy for cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to clarify renal functional changes long term and serious urological complications in women with cervical cancer who undergo radical hysterectomy followed by pelvic radiotherapy and/or platinum-based chemotherapy to treat the initial disease. METHODS: Data on 380 women who underwent radical hysterectomy at the National Kyushu Cancer Center from January 1997 to December 2013 were reviewed. Main outcome measures were the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and monitored abnormal urological findings. RESULTS: Postoperative eGFR was significantly lower than preoperative eGFR in 179 women with surgery alone and in 201 women with additional pelvic radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (both P < 0.01). Two types of univariate analyses for eGFR reduction in women after treatment showed that older age, advanced stage, pelvic radiotherapy, and platinum-based chemotherapy were significant variables on both analyses. Two types of multivariate analyses showed that platinum-based chemotherapy or pelvic radiotherapy were associated with impaired renal function (odds ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.08-3.54 and odds ratio 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.12-7.24, for the respective analyses). There was a higher rate of bladder wall thickening in women with pelvic radiotherapy had than those without it (17.4% vs. 2.7%, P < 0.01). One serious urological complication (intraperitoneal rupture of the bladder) occurred among women who underwent pelvic radiotherapy (0.6% vs. 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should be aware that eGFR is reduced after platinum-based chemotherapy and/or postoperative pelvic radiotherapy. Serious and life-threatening urological complications are rare, but surgeons should be aware of the possibility during the long follow-up.

Apparent diffusion coefficient: An associative factor for recurrence after nephrectomy in localized renal cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of a tumor is associated with recurrence after nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 49 patients with localized RCC who underwent 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion-weighted imaging preoperatively. Fifteen patients had recurrent disease after surgery. The ADC was measured by placing a region-of-interest in a solid region of each tumor on the ADC map. We named the average value of the three ADC values the "average ADC" and the lowest ADC value among the three as the "minimum ADC." The correlations between clinicopathological factors including patient age and gender, tumor side, tumor size, growth/invasion pattern, Fuhrman grade, histological subtype, venous invasion, average and minimum ADCs, and disease-free survival were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, tumor size, venous invasion, mean ADC, and minimum ADC showed significant correlations with disease-free survival (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, only venous invasion and minimum ADC were significant (P < 0.05). The 5-year disease-free survival rate of the low minimum ADC group was 51.6%, while that of the high minimum ADC group was 85.1%. CONCLUSION: The minimum ADC of a tumor, although not as pronounced as venous invasion, was found to be an independent associative factor for recurrence after nephrectomy in patients with localized RCC.

Significance of the Signal Intensity of Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced MR Imaging for Predicting the Efficacy of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We attempted to clarify the relationship between the signal intensity (SI) in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). METHODS: We enrolled 14 patients with HCCs who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging prior to HAIC using cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. In the hepatobiliary phase, we calculated the SI of the HCCs and the background liver. In cases with multiple HCCs, we calculated the SI of the largest lesion. Patients were classified into high (n = 7) and low intensity (n = 7) groups based on the median value of the SI ratio (SI of the tumor/SI of the background liver). We analyzed progression-free survival using the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. In the 5 patients with a history of HCC surgery, we compared the expression of immunohistochemical organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) 8 between the high and low intensity groups by chi-square test. RESULTS: The SI ratios were 0.568 ± 0.093 (mean ± standard deviation) in the high intensity group and 0.251 ± 0.086 in the low intensity group. Compared to the group with low signal intensity, the group with high signal intensity demonstrated significantly lower serum levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) (P = 0.0350), significantly higher progression-free survival (P = 0.0108), better differentiation of tumor grade at histologic examination (P = 0.0253), and significantly higher OATP8 expression (P = 0.0253). CONCLUSION: Patients with HCCs of high SI ratio in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging can respond better to HAIC.

MR Prediction of Liver Function and Pathology Using Gd-EOB-DTPA: Effect of Liver Volume Consideration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the diagnostic performance of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI in evaluating liver function and pathology is improved by considering liver volume (LV). METHODS: This retrospective study included 104 patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI before liver surgery. For each patient, using the precontrast and hepatobiliary phase images, we calculated the increase rate of the liver-to-spleen signal intensity ratio (LSR), that is, the "ΔLSR," and the increase rate of the liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratio (LMR), that is, the "ΔLMR." ΔLSR × LV and ΔLMR × LV were also calculated. The correlation of each MR parameter with liver function data or liver pathology was assessed. The correlation coefficients were compared between ΔLSR (ΔLMR) and ΔLSR (ΔLMR) × LV. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between ΔLSR (ΔLMR) × LV and cholinesterase was significantly higher than that between ΔLSR (ΔLMR) and cholinesterase. The correlation coefficient between ΔLSR (ΔLMR) × LV and the degree of fibrosis or necroinflammatory activity was significantly lower than that between ΔLSR (ΔLMR) and the degree of fibrosis or necroinflammatory activity. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of liver volume may improve Gd-EOB-DTPA-based predictions of liver function, but not in predictions of liver pathology.

Inflammatory Pseudotumor-like Follicular Dendritic Cell Tumor of the Spleen: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

A 74-year-old woman underwent contrast-enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT) that revealed an enlarging splenic lesion. This splenic tumor was suspected as metastasis because the patient had been diagnosed with right breast cancer with lung and right axillary lymph node metastases 4 years earlier and had undergone surgery and hormone therapy at another hospital. T2-weighted imaging of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated the tumor with slightly high intensity with a rim of low intensity at the margin. On dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MR imaging after intravenous administration of gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, delayed enhancement was observed in the center and margin of the tumor. On positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) integrated with CT, the tumor showed high FDG uptake. Splenic metastasis was considered based on the imaging findings, lack of inflammation on laboratory data, and clinical course, so she underwent splenectomy. Histopathologically, the tumor was encapsulated by a fibrous structure, which was depicted as the rim at the tumor margin on T2-weighted imaging and DCE-MR imaging. Immunohistochemical study allowed the diagnosis of inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT)-like follicular dendritic cell tumor (FDCT). FDCT is a primary neoplasm of lymph nodes that shows features of follicular dendritic cell differentiation, and it is rare at the spleen. Differential diagnosis is difficult between IPT-like FDCT and similar splenic tumors, such as IPT, splenic metastases, hamartoma and hemangioma. However, in addition to the enhancement pattern within a tumor on DCE-MR imaging, detection of the capsular-like rim on MR imaging might aid the diagnosis of splenic IPT-like FDCT.