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De Muzio F, Grassi F, Dell’Aversana F, Fusco R, Danti G, Flammia F, Chiti G, Valeri T, Agostini A, Palumbo P, Bruno F, Cutolo C, Grassi R, Simonetti I, Giovagnoni A, Miele V, Barile A, Granata V. A Narrative Review on LI-RADS Algorithm in Liver Tumors: Prospects and Pitfalls. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12071655. [PMID: 35885561 PMCID: PMC9319674 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12071655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most detected tumor and the third leading cause of tumor death worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy with specific risk factors and a targeted population. Imaging plays a major role in the management of HCC from screening to post-therapy follow-up. In order to optimize the diagnostic-therapeutic management and using a universal report, which allows more effective communication among the multidisciplinary team, several classification systems have been proposed over time, and LI-RADS is the most utilized. Currently, LI-RADS comprises four algorithms addressing screening and surveillance, diagnosis on computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnosis on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and treatment response on CT/MRI. The algorithm allows guiding the radiologist through a stepwise process of assigning a category to a liver observation, recognizing both major and ancillary features. This process allows for characterizing liver lesions and assessing treatment. In this review, we highlighted both major and ancillary features that could define HCC. The distinctive dynamic vascular pattern of arterial hyperenhancement followed by washout in the portal-venous phase is the key hallmark of HCC, with a specificity value close to 100%. However, the sensitivity value of these combined criteria is inadequate. Recent evidence has proven that liver-specific contrast could be an important tool not only in increasing sensitivity but also in diagnosis as a major criterion. Although LI-RADS emerges as an essential instrument to support the management of liver tumors, still many improvements are needed to overcome the current limitations. In particular, features that may clearly distinguish HCC from cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and combined HCC-CCA lesions and the assessment after locoregional radiation-based therapy are still fields of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica De Muzio
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences V. Tiberio, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy;
| | - Francesca Grassi
- Division of Radiology, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Naples, Italy; (F.G.); (F.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Federica Dell’Aversana
- Division of Radiology, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Naples, Italy; (F.G.); (F.D.); (R.G.)
| | - Roberta Fusco
- Medical Oncology Division, Igea SpA, 80013 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Ginevra Danti
- Division of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy; (G.D.); (F.F.); (G.C.); (V.M.)
- Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), SIRM Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy; (P.P.); (F.B.)
| | - Federica Flammia
- Division of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy; (G.D.); (F.F.); (G.C.); (V.M.)
- Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), SIRM Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy; (P.P.); (F.B.)
| | - Giuditta Chiti
- Division of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy; (G.D.); (F.F.); (G.C.); (V.M.)
- Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), SIRM Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy; (P.P.); (F.B.)
| | - Tommaso Valeri
- Department of Clinical Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (T.V.); (A.A.); (A.G.)
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti, Via Tronto 10/a, 60126 Torrette, Italy
| | - Andrea Agostini
- Department of Clinical Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (T.V.); (A.A.); (A.G.)
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti, Via Tronto 10/a, 60126 Torrette, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Palumbo
- Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), SIRM Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy; (P.P.); (F.B.)
- Area of Cardiovascular and Interventional Imaging, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Abruzzo Health Unit 1, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Federico Bruno
- Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), SIRM Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy; (P.P.); (F.B.)
- Emergency Radiology, San Salvatore Hospital, Via Lorenzo Natali 1, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Carmen Cutolo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy;
| | - Roberta Grassi
- Division of Radiology, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Naples, Italy; (F.G.); (F.D.); (R.G.)
- Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), SIRM Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy; (P.P.); (F.B.)
| | - Igino Simonetti
- Radiology Division, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS-Fondazione G. Pascale, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy; (I.S.); (V.G.)
| | - Andrea Giovagnoni
- Department of Clinical Special and Dental Sciences, University Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (T.V.); (A.A.); (A.G.)
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti, Via Tronto 10/a, 60126 Torrette, Italy
| | - Vittorio Miele
- Division of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy; (G.D.); (F.F.); (G.C.); (V.M.)
- Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), SIRM Foundation, 20122 Milan, Italy; (P.P.); (F.B.)
| | - Antonio Barile
- Emergency Radiology, San Salvatore Hospital, Via Lorenzo Natali 1, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Vincenza Granata
- Radiology Division, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS-Fondazione G. Pascale, Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy; (I.S.); (V.G.)
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