Growth rate of small hepatocellular carcinoma by computed tomography and its clinical significance

CT findings and natural growth rate of small hapatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were retrospectively studied by CT in 40 cases of HCC with chronic liver disease. 1) The small HCC were recognized as small, homogeneous low or iso density area without encapsulated zone. The difference of density between liver parenchyma and small HCC was 6.5 to 6.9 Hounsfield Unit (HU). 2) The doubling time of tumor diameter (DT) ranged between 3.1 and 80.6 months, with arithmetic mean of 20.7 months and logarithmic mean of 16.2 months. The frequency distribution of DT showed lognormal distribution. 3) The growth rate of HCC was classified into 3 groups; Rapid growth (DT≤7.0 months), Intermediate growth (7.024.0 months). 4) The mean DT of tumors smaller than 2 cm, growing beyond the size of 2 cm and larger than 2 cm was 29.5, 12.1 and 13.4 months, respectively. 5) DT was well correlated with doubling time of AFP level, caudate-to-right-lobe ratio (C/RL ratio), survival time of tumor death cases. 6) In the Rapid growth group, most cases died of HCC, while in the Slow growth group, most cases died of hepatic failure. These data from my study will be useful for prevention, early detection and prospective analysis of its prognosis of HCC. (author) 52 refs