Evaluation of histologic factor that influence signal intensity of hepatocellular carcinoma on T2 weighted image

We evaluate the histologic factors that influence directly on the signal intensity in well- or moderate-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma on T2 weighted image. The subjects were 13 nodes (2 of well-differentiated and 11 of moderate-differentiated) confirmed to be hepatocellular carcinoma, which were out of 37 untreated nodes suspected to be hepatocellular carcinoma and carried out MRI from April 1996 to March 1997. Images were obtained using the MRI apparatus (Signa Advantage, Signa Horizon) at 1.5 T of the static magnetic strength. All nodes examined had not any widespread solidified necrosis or lipidification to influence signal intensity on T2 weighted image. We examined tissue features by HE staining and calculated factors to influence signal intensity on T2 weighted image, including N/C ratio, the cell density, the area of the pool cavity per unit area, the nucleus area, and the ratio of inside to outside (inside node/in the neighboring node without vessels) of the cytoplasmic area. Our result suggests that the signal intensity ratio of inside to outside at the carcinoma node of the hepatocellular carcinoma on MRI and T2 weighted image is greatly influenced by the cytoplasmic area ratio of inside to outside at the carcinoma node. (K.H.)