Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in association with serum biomarkers for differentiating combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Table 2 Imaging characteristics of the study patients with combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and those with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma, n (%)

	CHC, n = 35	Non-CHC		P1	P2
		ICC, n = 29	HCC, n = 70
Echogenic degree				0.692	0.099
Hypo-	32 (91.4)	25 (86.2)	55 (78.6)
Hyper-	3 (8.6)	4 (13.8)	15 (21.4)
Poor boundary	23 (65.7)	22 (75.9)	36 (51.4)	0.422	0.212
Irregular shape	23 (65.7)	20 (69.0)	30 (42.9)	1.000	0.038
APHE pattern				0.757	0.001
Rim-like	6 (17.1)	6 (20.7)	0 (0.0)
Non-rim-like	29 (82.9)	23 (79.3)	70 (100)
Timing of washout onset				0.017	< 0.001
Early, < 60 s	26 (74.3)	28 (96.6)	13 (18.6)
Late, > 60 s	9 (25.7)	1 (3.4)	57 (81.4)
Degree of washout				1.000	0.109
Marked, as observed within first 120 s	2 (5.7)	1 (3.4)	0 (0.0)
Mild	33 (94.3)	28 (96.6)	70 (100.0)
CEUS LI-RADS				0.003	< 0.001
LR-5	9 (25.7)	0 (0.0)	57 (81.4)
LR-M	26 (74.3)	29 (100.0)	13 (18.6)

P1 significant difference between combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. P2 significant difference between combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. APHE: Arterial phase hyperenhancement; CHC: Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; ICC: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; LI-RADS: Liver Image Reporting and Data System.