Hepatocellular carcinoma and diffusion-weighted MRI: Detection and evaluation of treatment response Journal Article


Authors: Gluskin, J. S.; Chegai, F.; Monti, S.; Squillaci, E.; Mannelli, L.
Article Title: Hepatocellular carcinoma and diffusion-weighted MRI: Detection and evaluation of treatment response
Abstract: Differentiating between cancerous tissue and healthy liver parenchyma could represent a challenge with the only conventional Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) exploits different tissue characteristics to conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) sequences that enhance hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection, characterization, and post-treatment evaluation. Detection of HCC is improved by DWI, infact this technology increases conspicuity of lesions that might otherwise not be identified due to obscuration by adjacent vessels or due to low contrast between the lesion and background liver. It is important to remember that DWI combined with contrast-enhanced MRI has higher sensitivity than DWI alone, and that some patients are not eligible for use of contrast on CT and MRI; in these patients DWI has a prominent role. MRI has advanced beyond structural anatomic imaging to now showing pathophysiologic processes. DWI is a promising way to characterize lesions utilizing the inherent contrast within the liver and has the benefit of not requiring contrast injection. DWI improves detection and characterization of HCC. Proposed clinical uses for DWI include: assessing prognosis, predicting response, monitoring response to therapy, and distinguishing tumor recurrence from treatment effect. Ideally, DWI will help risk stratify patients and will participate in prognostic modeling. © Ivyspring International Publisher.
Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; diffusion weighted imaging (dwi); hepatic carcinogenesis
Journal Title: Journal of Cancer
Volume: 7
Issue: 11
ISSN: 1837-9664
Publisher: Ivyspring International Publisher  
Date Published: 2016-01-01
Start Page: 1565
End Page: 1570
Language: English
DOI: 10.7150/jca.14582
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4964141
PUBMED: 27471573
DOI/URL:
Notes: Review -- Export Date: 6 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Jill Stacey Gluskin
    26 Gluskin