Satoshi Goshima MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yoshifumi Noda MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hiroshi Kondo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yukichi Tanahashi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nobuyuki Kawai MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Haruo Watanabe MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Masayuki Kanematsu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kyongtae Tyler Bae MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Patent agreement, Covidien AG Consultant, Otsuka Holdings Co, Ltd

To evaluate whether hepatic fibrosis index (HFI) quantified on the basis of hepatic contour abnormality is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

During a 14-month period, we prospectively evaluated 98 patients with chronic hepatitis C who had no medical history of HCC treatment (56 men and 42 women; mean age, 70.7 years; range, 48-91 years). Gadoxetic acid enhanced hepatocyte phase was used to detect and analyze hepatic contour abnormality. Hepatic contour abnormality was quantified and converted to HFI using in-house proto-type software. HFI was computed and compared between patients with (n = 54) and without HCC (n = 44), and tested as a risk factor for the development of HCC determined by the odds ratio with binominal logistic analysis.

HFI was significantly higher in patients with HCC (0.58+/-0.86) than without HCC (0.36+/-0.11) (P < 0.001). Logistic analysis revealed that HFI was a significant risk factor for HCC with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 26.4 (9.0-77.8) with a cutoff value of 0.395.

Hepatic fibrosis index, generated using a computer-aided assessment of hepatic contour abnormality, may be a significant imaging biomarker for the development of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

A computer-generated, hepatic morphological index is highly predictive for the development of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C. This index may be an important imaging biomarker for clinical management of these patients.

Goshima, S, Noda, Y, Kondo, H, Tanahashi, Y, Kawai, N, Watanabe, H, Kanematsu, M, Bae, K, Computer-aided Assessment of Hepatic Contour Abnormalities as an Imaging Biomarker for the Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14005505.html