Mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced MRI of hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with histological characteristics

Abstract

AIM: To define histopathological factors related to the degree of mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP) uptake in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-phase and opposed-phase gradient-echo MRI images were obtained preoperatively in 37 patients with 38 HCCs before and 15-30 min after intravenous injection of MnDPDP. Subjective ratings of the enhancement degree, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the lesion and the liver, and the contrast enhancement ratios (CER) were compared with histopathological factors.

RESULTS: The mean SNR of HCCs increased from 59.6 to 95.0 (CER=59.5%), whereas that of the liver increased from 75.1 to 108.7 (CER=45.2%). Eight HCCs showed mild enhancement, 11 moderate enhancement, and 15 strong enhancement. There was no visually perceptible enhancement in four HCCs (10.3%). The degree of MnDPDP enhancement was significantly related with the cell density ratio (p<.05) and monoclonal hepatocyte antibody positivity (p<0.005), but not with size, growth type, cell type, histological type, cytokeratin 7, or cytokeratin 19. Well-differentiated HCC showed higher MnDPDP enhancement compared with higher grade HCCs, but the differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: The uptake of MnDPDP by HCC was correlated with hepatocyte antibody expression and the cellular density ratio. Well-differentiated HCC tended to show higher MnDPDP enhancement.