Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignant liver tumor that
complicates advanced chronic liver disease, especially liver cirrhosis. Surveillance of
this category of patients is mandatory for early detection of HCC and improved
prognosis. Screening should be carried out by the abdominal US every 6 months with
or without alpha-fetoprotein.
The diagnosis of HCC is confirmed by imaging methods that highlight the typical
behavior of HCC: hyper-enhancement in the arterial phase and washout in the late
phase. Imaging methods used for HCC diagnosis are Multi-detector computer
tomography (MDCT), multi-phase nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or
contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).
LI-RADS algorithm is now one of the most used widely systems for the imaging
diagnosis of HCC. It is a standardized system for technique, interpretation, reporting,
and data collection for imaging (CT, MRI, and CEUS). The algorithm includes 8
categories with an increasing probability of HCC and malignancy with higher
categories.
Studies that have attempted to validate this LI-RADS scheme for the diagnosis of HCC
shown that LR-5 is highly predictive for HCC.
Keywords: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, Diagnosis, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Liver cirrhosis, Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System, Magnetic resonance imaging, Multi-detector computer tomography.
