Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the highly prevalent malignancies in (holding fourth place) in Egypt. Post viral hepatitic cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis show higher HCC incidence rate.
The early diagnosis provides a better chance to use curative therapeutic options. Therefore, surveillance is indicated among high risk groups using ultrasonography (US) and serum alpha-fetoprotein as recommended in guidelines.
Multiphasic CT and MR imaging with contrast medium are evidence based effective imaging techniques for HCC diagnosis and staging. An optimum multiphasic CT study is indispensable to achieve the following:
Selection and planning of management plan.
Proper assessment of tumor burden and providing surgical relevant anatomical details.
Regarding local therapeutic procedures, it helps in selection of appropriate procedure and chemotherapeutic agent dose.
Evaluation of outcome and planning necessary additional procedures.
Aim of work:
The aim of the work is to define the relation between aortic and hepatic parenchymal enhancement values measured at hepatic arterial phase and specific diagnostic points. The study also aims at setting cut-off values to differentiate between optimum and suboptimum CT studies.