Delayed-Phase Dynamic CT Enhancement as a Prognostic Factor for Mass-forming Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Authors:
  • KYKengo Yoshimitsu
    Kengo Yoshimitsu
  • HIHiroyuki Irie
    Hiroyuki Irie
  • TTTsuyoshi Tajima
    Tsuyoshi Tajima
  • ANAkihiro Nishie
    Akihiro Nishie
  • MHMasakazu Hirakawa
    Masakazu Hirakawa
  • TNTomohiro Nakayama
    Tomohiro Nakayama
  • DKDaisuke Kakihara
    Daisuke Kakihara
  • ATAkinobu Taketomi
    Akinobu Taketomi
  • SAShin-Ichi Aishima
    Shin-Ichi Aishima
  • HHHiroshi Honda
    Hiroshi Honda
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Abstract
To retrospectively determine whether the degree of contrast material enhancement at delayed-phase dynamic computed tomography (CT) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is related to the patient's prognosis after surgery. Neither institutional review board approval nor informed consent was required for this retrospective evaluation. Thirty-two patients (22 men, 10 women; mean age, 60.8 years; range, 33-80 years) with mass-forming ICC underwent dynamic CT. Delayed CT images obtained 4-6 minutes after the injection of contrast material were evaluated by two radiologists. Patients were classified in consensus into one of two groups: Group 1 included those in whom more than two-thirds of the tumor showed enhancement on delayed-phase scans. Group 2 included those in whom less than two-thirds of the tumor showed enhancement on delayed-phase scans. The imaging findings were correlated with pathologic findings. Survival curves were drawn by using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the differences between the groups were compared with the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed to clarify prognostic factors. There were 13 patients in group 1 and 19 in group 2. The degree of enhancement on the delayed-phase images showed statistically significant correlation with the amount of fibrous stroma (P < .001) and the frequency of perineural invasion (P < .01). The survival rate in group 1 was significantly lower than that in group 2 (P = .016). Multivariate analysis revealed that enhancement of more than two-thirds of the ICC was a significant and independent prognostic factor. The degree of enhancement on delayed-phase CT scans is a useful indicator for prediction of the prognosis of patients with mass-forming ICC.

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