Gd-EOB MRI for HCC subtype differentiation in a western population according to the 5th edition of the World Health Organization classification

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the value of gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for noninvasive subtype differentiation of HCCs according to the 5^th edition of the WHO Classification of Digestive System Tumors in a western population.

Methods: This retrospective study included 262 resected lesions in 240 patients with preoperative Gd-EOB-enhanced MRI. Subtypes were assigned by two pathologists. Gd-EOB-enhanced MRI datasets were assessed by two radiologists for qualitative and quantitative imaging features, including imaging features defined in LI-RADS v2018 and area of hepatobiliary phase (HBP) iso- to hyperintensity.

Results: The combination of non-rim arterial phase hyperenhancement with non-peripheral portal venous washout was more common in "not otherwise specified" (nos-ST) (88/168, 52%) than other subtypes, in particular macrotrabecular massive (mt-ST) (3/15, 20%), chromophobe (ch-ST) (1/8, 13%), and scirrhous subtypes (sc-ST) (2/9, 22%) (p = 0.035). Macrovascular invasion was associated with mt-ST (5/16, p = 0.033) and intralesional steatosis with steatohepatitic subtype (sh-ST) (28/32, p < 0.001). Predominant iso- to hyperintensity in the HBP was only present in nos-ST (16/174), sh-ST (3/33), and clear cell subtypes (cc-ST) (3/13) (p = 0.031). Associations were found for the following non-imaging parameters: age and sex, as patients with fibrolamellar subtype (fib-ST) were younger (median 44 years (19-66), p < 0.001) and female (4/5, p = 0.023); logarithm of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was elevated in the mt-ST (median 397 µg/l (74-5370), p < 0.001); type II diabetes mellitus was more frequent in the sh-ST (20/33, p = 0.027).

Conclusions: Gd-EOB-MRI reproduces findings reported in the literature for extracellular contrast-enhanced MRI and CT and may be a valuable tool for noninvasive HCC subtype differentiation.

Clinical relevance statement: Better characterization of the heterogeneous phenotypes of HCC according to the revised WHO classification potentially improves both diagnostic accuracy and the precision of therapeutic stratification for HCC.

Key points: • Previously reported imaging features of common subtypes in CT and MRI enhanced with extracellular contrast agents are reproducible with Gd-EOB-enhanced MRI. • While uncommon, predominant iso- to hyperintensity in the HBP was observed only in NOS, clear cell, and steatohepatitic subtypes. • Gd-EOB-enhanced MRI offers imaging features that are of value for HCC subtype differentiation according to the 5^th edition of the WHO Classification of Digestive System Tumors.

Keywords: Gadoxetic acid; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver; Magnetic resonance imaging.