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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2009; 15(11): 1289-1300
Published online Mar 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1289
Published online Mar 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1289
Imaging of liver cancer
Ben Ariff, Claire R Lloyd, Sameer Khan, Adrian KP Lim, Department of Imaging, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom
Mohamed Shariff, Andrew V Thillainayagam, Devinder S Bansi, Shahid A Khan, Simon D Taylor-Robinson, Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Division of Medicine, Imperial College London, St Mary’s Hospital Campus, South Wharf Road, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Ariff B, Lloyd CR and Khan S contributed equally to this work; Shariff M, Thillainayagam AV, Bansi DS, Khan SA and Taylor-Robinson SD all contributed to the clinical aspects of the paper; Lim AKP is the senior author and edited the final draft, advised on the content and provided the images.
Correspondence to: Dr. Adrian KP Lim, Department of Imaging, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF, United Kingdom. a.lim@imperial.ac.uk
Telephone: +44-208-8461858
Fax: +44-208-846186
Received: November 17, 2008
Revised: December 22, 2008
Accepted: December 29, 2008
Published online: March 21, 2009
Revised: December 22, 2008
Accepted: December 29, 2008
Published online: March 21, 2009
Abstract
Improvements in imaging technology allow exploitation of the dual blood supply of the liver to aid in the identification and characterisation of both malignant and benign liver lesions. Imaging techniques available include contrast enhanced ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This review discusses the application of several imaging techniques in the diagnosis and staging of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma and outlines certain characteristics of benign liver lesions. The advantages of each imaging technique are highlighted, while underscoring the potential pitfalls and limitations of each imaging modality.
Keywords: Hepatic cell carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma, Contrast enhanced ultrasound, Computed tomography, Magnetic resonance imaging