CT-Value (△HU and CT-Value ratioin) differential diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma from focal nodular hyperplasia

The objective was to explore the value of the CT value difference (△HU) and CT value ratio (CVR) between the hepatic arterial (AP), portal (PP), and delayed phases (DP) to differentiate the small Hepatocellular Carcinoma (SHCC, ≤ 3 cm) from the small Focal nodular hyperplasia (SFNH, ≤ 3 cm).

All the lesions were confirmed by clinically and/or pathologically and all the patients underwent triple-phase enhanced CT scans. The lesions’ CT values (LCV) and the surrounding normal liver parenchyma (NCV) of the enhancement phases were measured separately, the △HU and CVR were calculated.

The median age and the male/female ratios of the SHCC and SFNH have statistically significant, and the size haven’t statistically significant. The △HU and CVR of the AP, PP, and DP of the SHCCs and SFNHs were statistically significant, respectively. The area under curve of △HU and CVR of AP, PP and DP were increased gradually. When the △HU and CVR of the AP, PP and DP were 105.800HU vs. 1.516, -12.600HU vs. 0.949, -19.750 HU vs. 0.951, obtained the maximum You-den indexes. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 80.6 % and 90.1 % vs. 88.90% and 72.1%, 100% and 81.1% vs. 100% and 81.1%, 94.4 % and 96.4% vs. 94.4 % and 96.4%, respectively.

The SHCC was highly suggested when △HU and CVR are no greater than 105.800HU and 1.516, -12.600HU and 0.949, -19.750 HU and 0.951 of the AP, PP, and DP in the middle-aged and elderly male patients, especially in the DP.