ObjectiveTo evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in characterizing cirrhosis-related nodules. MethodsThe databases such as the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase were searched on computer from 1998 to 2012.The reviewers screened the trials according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the methodology quality.Meta-analysis was performed using the metadisc 1.40 software.The acquired pooled sensitivity, specificity, and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve were used to describe the diagnostic value.The pooled likelihood ratio was calculated based on the pooled sensitivity and specificity. ResultsSix case-control studies involving 917 patients diagnosed with cirrhosis who were suspected to have hepatic nodules were included and 776 masses were confirmed by the biopsy or postoperative histopathology.The pooled statistical results of meta-analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of MRI were 87%(83%-89%) and 79%(73%-84%) respectively, the positive and negative likelihood ratios of MRI were 3.95 and 0.18 respectively, and the area under the SROC curve (AUC) was 0.895 6.The sensitivity and specificity of CT were 69%(65%-73%) and 83%(77%-88%) respectively, the positive and negative likelihood ratios of CT were 3.29 and 0.42 respectively, and the AUC was 0.728 7.The sensitivity, positive likehood ratio, and accuracy of MRI in characterizing cirrhosis-related nodules were higher than those of CT. ConclusionAccording these evidences, the MRI should be the first imaging examination for qualitative diagnosis of cirrhosis-related nodules.
ObjectiveTo investigate the significance of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC value) for pretrea-tment prediction of short-term treatment effect in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent transca-theter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). MethodsA total of twelve HCC patients with twenty-three HCC lesions who underwent TACE in our hospital from May. 2014 to May. 2015 were enrolled prospectively, to explore the difference between pre-and post-TACE in diameter of tumor, ADC value of HCC lesions, ADC value of liver parenchyma, and analyze the predictive significance of ADC value of HCC lesions for TACE in treatment of HCC. ResultsThere were no statistical difference between pre-and post-TACE in diameter of HCC lesions and ADC value of liver parenchyma (P=0.635, P=0.473), but the ADC value of HCC lesions was higher after TACE than pre-TACE (P=0.003). After TACE, the area of necrosis in HCC lesions was≥50% in 17 lesions (73.9%, good effect group), and <50% in 6 lesions (26.1%, poor effect group). Compared with poor effect group, ADC values of HCC lesions in good effect group were both higher before and after TACE (P<0.050). Area under ROC curve (AUC value) of ADC value in HCC lesions before TACE for predicting the effect of TACE was 0.690 (95% CI:0.510-0.879), with the sensitivity and specificity of 82.3% (95% CI:65.5%-93.2%) and 53.8% (95% CI:25.1%-80.8%) respectively, and the demarcation point for good effect and poor effect was 1.24×103 mm2/s. ConclusionThis preliminary study demonstrates that the ADC value of HCC lesions before TACE may be a useful indicator to predict early response of TACE in treatment of HCC.