Diagnosis of LI-RADS M lesions on gadoxetate-enhanced MRI: identifying cholangiocarcinoma-containing tumor with serum markers and imaging features

Objectives The LI-RADS M (LR-M) category describes hepatic lesions probably or definitely malignant, but not specific for hepatocellular carcinoma in at-risk patients. Differentiation among LR-M entities, particularly detecting cholangiocarcinoma-containing tumors (M-CCs), is essential for treatment and prognosis. Thus, we aimed to develop diagnostic models on gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI comprising serum tumor markers and LI-RADS imaging features for M-CC. Methods Consecutive at-risk patients with LR-M lesions exclusively (no co-existing LR-4 and/or LR-5 lesions) were retrieved retrospectively from a prospectively collected database spanning 3 years. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (c-HCC-CCA) were classified together as M-CC. LI-RADS features determined by three independent radiologists and clinically relevant serum tumor markers were used to generate M-CC diagnostic models through logistic regression analysis against histology. Per-patient performance was evaluated using area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. Results Forty-five patients were included, 42.2% (19/45) with hepatocellular carcinoma, 33.3% (15/45) with ICC, 13.3% (6/45) with c-HCC-CCA, and 11.1% (5/45) with other hepatic lesions. Carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 > 38 U/mL, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 4.8 ng/mL, and absence of the LI-RADS feature blood products in mass were significant predictors of M-CC. Combining three predictors demonstrated AUC of 0.862, sensitivity of 76%, and specificity of 88%. The risk of M-CC with all three criteria fulfilled was 98% (AUC, 0.690; sensitivity, 38%; specificity, 100%). Conclusions In at-risk patients with LR-M lesions, integrating CA19-9, AFP, and the LI-RADS feature blood products in mass achieved high diagnostic performance for M-CC. When all three criteria were fulfilled, the specificity for M-CC was 100%.

Automated summary

The study aimed to develop diagnostic models for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (M-CC) by combining serum tumor markers and LI-RADS imaging features, which showed high diagnostic performance for M-CC. Significant predictors of M-CC were identified as CA19-9, AFP, and absence of blood products in mass in LI-RADS, with their combination achieving high sensitivity and specificity.