Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma with multi-slice spiral CT by using double-arterial phase and portal venous phase enhanced scanning: Effect of iodine concentration of contrast material

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of iodine concentration of contrast material on detection of hepatocellular carcinoma with multi-slice spiral computed tomography (CT) by using double-arterial phase and portal venous phase enhanced scanning. Ninety-four (94) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were examined by hepatic plain CT and contrast-enhanced CT including early arterial phase (EAP), late arterial phase (LAP) and portal venous phase (PVP) scanning. Patients
were randomized into two groups to receive Iopamidol 370 mg /ml (47 patients) and 300 mg /ml (47 patients). The images were interpreted by two experienced radiologists together prospectively. The detection sensitivity for tumors of two size categories (2 or >2 cm) and iodine concentration groups were calculated and analyzed. A total of 318 lesions were detected with 86 2 cm in size and 232 >2 cm. For EAP and LAP, the sensitivity of Iopamidol 370 mg I/ml group was significantly higher than Iopamidol 300 mg I/ml group for tumors 2 cm and all tumors. For PVP, there were no significant differences between groups. We concluded that high-iodine-concentration contrast material could improve the detection of HCC for EAP and LAP, especially for tumor 2 cm.