Preoperative Detection of Liver Involvement by Right-Sided Adrenocortical Carcinoma Using CT and MRI

Simple Summary The major prognosis factor of adrenocortical carcinoma is the completeness of surgery. Focal adrenocortical carcinoma bulge on computed tomography and adrenocortical carcinoma contour disruption on magnetic resonance imaging are highly reproducible signs. These signs are strongly associated with direct liver involvement by right-sided adrenocortical carcinoma on preoperative imaging. These findings may help surgeons plan surgical approach before resection and decrease the complication rate. The major prognosis factor of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is the completeness of surgery. The aim of our study was to identify preoperative imaging features associated with direct liver involvement (DLI) by right-sided ACC. Two radiologists, blinded to the outcome, independently reviewed preoperative CT and MRI examinations for eight signs of DLI, in patients operated for right-sided ACC and retrospectively included from November 2007 to January 2020. DLI was confirmed using surgical and histopathological findings. Kappa values were calculated. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed by using a logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were built for CT and MRI. Twenty-nine patients were included. Seven patients had DLI requiring en bloc resection. At multivariable analysis, focal ACC bulge was the single independent sign associated with DLI on CT (OR: 60.00; 95% CI: 4.60-782.40; p < 0.001), and ACC contour disruption was the single independent sign associated with DLI on MRI (OR: 126.00; 95% CI: 6.82-2328.21; p < 0.001). Both signs were highly reproducible, with respective kappa values of 0.85 and 0.91. The areas under ROC curves of MRI and CT models were not different (p = 0.838). Focal ACC bulge on CT and ACC contour disruption on MRI are independent and highly reproducible signs, strongly associated with DLI by right-sided ACC on preoperative imaging. MRI does not improve the preoperative assessment of DLI by comparison with CT.

Automated summary

Completeness of surgery is the major prognostic factor for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Specific imaging features on CT and MRI can help identify direct liver involvement (DLI) by right-sided ACC, aiding in surgical planning and reducing complication rates. Focal ACC bulge on CT and ACC contour disruption on MRI are independent and highly reproducible signs of DLI, with comparable diagnostic accuracy between the two imaging modalities.