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Encapsulated hepatocellular carcinoma: CT-pathologic correlations

  • Hepatobiliary-Pancreas
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Abstract

This study is a retrospective evaluation of the correlations between the presence and integrity of the capsule of nodular hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) by dynamic CT and histopathology, with histopathologic evidence of tumor propagation to surrounding hepatic parenchyma. Dynamic CT scans of 75 nodular HCCs in 73 patients (61 men, 12 women; age range, 32–81; mean, 53) were evaluated regarding capsule visualization and integrity. Histopathologic findings of HCCs in resected specimens were correlated with the presence of a capsule, tumor invasion onto the capsule, and with the presence of microvascular emboli in the surrounding liver parenchyma. On histopathologic examination, capsules were present in 57 of 75 nodular HCCs; the capsules were invaded by tumor in 18 nodules and there were microvascular emboli around the nodular HCC in 49 cases. Capsule visualization by CT was correlated with the presence of capsule by histopathology (P<0.001). Disruption of capsule by CT was correlated with tumor invasion by histopathology (P=0.003) and with microvascular tumor emboli (P<0.001). The presence and structural integrity of HCC capsules on CT was closely correlated with the presence of capsule on histopathology and the absence of microvascular tumor emboli.

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Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank Sun Woo Kim, Ph.D., Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, for her statistical analysis, John Roberts, PhD, Harrisco, for his copyediting, and Young Joo Moon, Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, for her assistance in manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-ku, 135-710, Seoul, South Korea

    Jae Hoon Lim, Dongil Choi, Won Jae Lee & Hyo Keun Lim

  2. Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-ku, 135-710, Seoul, South Korea

    Cheol Keun Park

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  1. Jae Hoon Lim
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  2. Dongil Choi
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  3. Cheol Keun Park
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Correspondence to Jae Hoon Lim.

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Lim, J.H., Choi, D., Park, C.K. et al. Encapsulated hepatocellular carcinoma: CT-pathologic correlations. Eur Radiol 16, 2326–2333 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0203-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-006-0203-8

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