Title:Imaging Characteristics and Pathological Analysis of Primary Hepatic
Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Volume: 20
Author(s): Dan Li, Yaqiong He, Gongxun Xie, Zhiqun Mao and Peng Liu*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No.61 Jiefang West Road,
Changsha, Hunan, China
Keywords:
Liver, Neuroendocrine neoplasms, Magnetic resonance imaging, Computed tomography, Gd-EOB-DTPA, Radiological characteristics.
Abstract:
Aims:
To investigate the radiological characteristics of the PHNENs on CT and MRI and improve the understanding of the image manifestations and
preoperative diagnosis of the disease.
Background:
Primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PHNENs) are rare diseases, and most of the relevant studies are case reports. Characterized by no
specific clinical symptoms, PHNENs not only have a low preoperative diagnosis rate with great difficulty in early diagnosis but are frequently
misdiagnosed as primary hepatic cancer.
Objective:
15 PHNEN patients were enrolled, with 10 cases in the G2 stage and 5 cases in the G3 stage.
Methods:
The imaging and clinicopathological information of 15 patients pathologically diagnosed with PHNENs was retrospectively reviewed.
Results:
The average age of the patients enrolled was 46.14±18.24 years, and the average tumor size was 91.00±61.17 mm. 13 cases showed nodules or
masses, 8 cases were located in the periphery of the liver, showing capsule depression and subcapsular effusion signs. CT enhanced scan showed
heterogeneous and obvious enhancement in 9 arterial-phase cases, 2 cases in arterial and portal venous phases both saw mild enhancement; the
enhancement degree of lesions in the G2 stage in the arterial phase was significantly higher than in the G3 stage. Gd-EOB-DTPA dynamic
enhanced MRI was conducted on 3 cases, and scattered lesions with heterogeneous and slight hyperintensity were observed in the hepatobiliaryspecific
lesions. Image manifestations showed diffuse lesions in 2 cases, with heterogeneous enhancement in the arterial phase and decreased
enhancement in the portal venous phase by the dynamic enhanced scan.
Conclusion:
PHNENs were the imaging characteristics of PHNENs. The CT-enhanced scanning during the arterial phase may provide a certain reference for
pathological grading (G2 and G3 grades). Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI is helpful for PHNEN diagnosis.
