Imaging in Patients with Cirrhosis: Current Evidence

Radiol Clin North Am. 2015 Sep;53(5):919-31. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2015.05.006.

Abstract

There have been major changes in the management and reporting of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the last decade. Cross-sectional imaging is now pivotal in the management of cirrhotic patients, in particular in the diagnosis and staging of HCC. Although diagnostic systems have become relatively well developed, approximately one-third of HCC nodules may have an atypical appearance, necessitating ancillary testing, close follow-up, or biopsy. The introduction of standardized diagnostic and reporting systems has improved communication between radiologists and clinicians, but there remains substantial disagreement between radiologists in feature assignment and nodule characterization.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; Cross-sectional imaging; Evidence; Hepatocellular carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Contrast Media
  • Diagnostic Imaging*
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis*
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging

Substances

  • Contrast Media