Comparative analysis of MRI between hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma and liver cancer

HE Shasha; JI Yuan; WANG Mingliang; WANG Qingle; ZENG Mengsu

Abstract：Objective To explore the MRI features of hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma(HEMAL)and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)without cirrhosis background.Methods Clinical and MRI imaging data of 32 HEAML patients and 51 HCC patients without cirrhosis background were selected.Image analysis included the location,size,shape,presence of bleeding and fat,delayed phase signals,supply arteries,early drainage veins,central vascular signs,capsule and surrounding vascular rela-tionships of the lesion,and comparison of MRI features for differences.The locations of the two types of lesions in HEAML and HCC were left lobe(15/32),right lobe(16/32),caudate lobe(1/32),left lobe(13/51),right lobe(36/51),and caudate lobe(2/51),with a maximum diameter of(39.28±22.68)mm vs(39.22±25.97)mm.The lesion had fat(13/32 vs 5/51),bleeding(2/32 vs 15/51),and ADC value to liver ratio(1.07±0.38)vs(0.93±0.21),with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Significant enhancement in arterial phase(31/32 vs 42/51),low signal in delayed phase(10/32 vs 45/51),fast in and fast out enhancement mode(10/32 vs 44/51),presence of blood supply arteries(1/32 vs 13/51),early drainage veins(20/32 vs 2/51),central vascular sign(14/32 vs 1/51),and capsule(7/32 vs 36/51)were all statistically significant(P<0.05).However,there was no statistically significant difference in the relationship with surrounding blood vessels in terms of compression(11/32 vs 8/51),and low signal in the hepatobiliary phase(4/5 vs 19/23)(P>0.05).Conclusion There is a certain difference in MRI manifestations between HEAML and HCC.Especially,the presence or absence of fat and bleeding,early drainage of veins,cen-tral vascular signs,and enhanced signals and manners are helpful for differential diagnosis of the lesion.