Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Value of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Correlation with the Histologic Differentiation and the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.
10.3348/kjr.2010.11.3.295
- Author:
Suk Hee HEO
1
;
Yong Yeon JEONG
;
Sang Soo SHIN
;
Jin Woong KIM
;
Hyo Soon LIM
;
Jae Hyuk LEE
;
Yang Seok KOH
;
Chol Kyoon CHO
;
Heoung Keun KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeollanam-do 519-763, Korea. yjeong@jnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Liver neoplasm;
Liver neoplasm, MR;
Magnetic resonance (MR), diffusion study
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism/*pathology;
Cell Differentiation;
Contrast Media/diagnostic use;
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods;
Echo-Planar Imaging/methods;
Female;
Gadolinium DTPA/diagnostic use;
Humans;
Image Enhancement/methods;
Liver/metabolism/pathology;
Liver Neoplasms/metabolism/*pathology;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Predictive Value of Tests;
Retrospective Studies;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Severity of Illness Index;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*metabolism
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2010;11(3):295-303
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the histopathological differentiation and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) do show correlation with the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven HCCs from 27 patients who had undergone preoperative liver MRI (1.5T) and surgical resection were retrospectively reviewed. DWI was obtained with a single-shot, echo-planar imaging sequence in the axial plane (b values: 0 and 1,000 sec/mm2). On DWIs, the ADC value of the HCCs was measured by one radiologist, who was kept 'blinded' to the histological findings. Histopathologically, the differentiation was classified into well (n = 9), moderate (n = 9) and poor (n = 9). The expression of VEGF was semiquantitatively graded as grade 0 (n = 8), grade 1 (n = 9) and grade 2 (n = 10). We analyzed whether the histopathological differentiation and the expression of VEGF of the HCC showed correlation with the ADC value on DWI. RESULTS: The mean ADC value of the poorly-differentiated HCCs (0.9 +/- 0.13x10(-3) mm2/s) was lower than those of the well-differentiated HCCs (1.2 +/- 0.22x10(-3) mm2/s) (p = 0.031) and moderately-differentiated HCCs (1.1 +/- 0.01x10(-3) mm2/s) (p = 0.013). There was a significant correlation between the differentiation and the ADC value of the HCCs (r = -0.51, p = 0.012). The mean ADC of the HCCs with a VEGF expression grade of 0, 1 and 2 was 1.1 +/- 0.17, 1.1 +/- 0.21 and 1.1 +/- 0.18x10(-3) mm2/s, respectively. The VEGF expression did not show correlation with the ADC value of the HCCs (r = 0.07, p = 0.74). CONCLUSION: The histopathological differentiation of HCC shows inverse correlation with the ADC value. Therefore, DWI with ADC measurement may be a valuable tool for noninvasively predicting the differentiation of HCC.
