Advanced CT techniques for assessing hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth-most common cancer in the world, and hepatic dynamic CT studies are routinely performed for its evaluation. Ongoing studies are examining advanced imaging techniques that may yield better findings than are obtained with conventional hepatic dynamic CT scanning. Dual-energy CT-, perfusion CT-, and artificial intelligence-based methods can be used for the precise characterization of liver tumors, the quantification of treatment responses, and for predicting the overall survival rate of patients. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of conventional hepatic dynamic CT imaging are reviewed and the general principles of dual-energy- and perfusion CT, and the clinical applications and limitations of these technologies are discussed with respect to HCC. Finally, we address the utility of artificial intelligence-based methods for diagnosing HCC.

Automated summary

This review examines the use of advanced imaging techniques such as dual-energy CT, perfusion CT, and artificial intelligence for the precise characterization of liver tumors, treatment response quantification, and overall survival rate prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The advantages and disadvantages of conventional hepatic dynamic CT imaging are discussed, along with the clinical applications and limitations of dual-energy and perfusion CT in the context of HCC. Additionally, the utility of artificial intelligence-based methods for diagnosing HCC is explored.