Comparison of Biannual Ultrasonography and Annual Non-contrast Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging As Surveillance Tools for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis (MAGNUS-HCC): a Study Protocol

Overview

Journal BMC Cancer

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Oncology

Date 2017 Dec 23

PMID 29268722

Citations 13

Authors

Hyun A Kim

Kyung Ah Kim

Joon-Il Choi

Jeong Min Lee

Chang Hee Lee

Tae Wook Kang

Young-Mi Ku

Su Lim Lee

Yang Shin Park

Jeong Hee Yoon

Seong Hyun Kim

Moon Hyung Choi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Ultrasonography (US) is recommended as a standard surveillance tool for patients with a high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the low sensitivity of US for small HCC can lead to surveillance failure, resulting in advanced stage tumor presentations. For the early detection of HCC in high-risk patients and to improve survival and prognosis, a new efficient imaging tool with a high sensitivity for HCC detection is needed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the feasibility and efficacy of non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with US as a surveillance tool for HCC in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: MAGNUS-HCC is a prospective, multicenter clinical trial with a crossover design for a single arm of patients. This study was approved by six Institutional Review Boards, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. All patients will undergo liver US every 6 months and non-contrast liver MRI every 12 months during a follow-up period of 3 years. If a focal liver lesion suspected of harboring HCC is detected, dynamic liver computed tomography (CT) will be performed to confirm the diagnosis. After the last surveillance round, patients without suspicion of HCC or who are not diagnosed with HCC will be evaluated with a dynamic liver CT to exclude false-negative findings. The primary endpoint is to compare the rate of detection of HCC by US examinations performed at 6-month intervals with that of yearly non-contrast liver MRI studies during a 3-year follow-up. The secondary endpoint is the survival of the patients who developed HCC within the 3-year follow-up period.

Discussion: MAGNUS-HCC is the first study to compare the feasibility of non-contrast MRI with US as a surveillance tool for the detection of HCC in high-risk patients. We anticipate that the evidence presented in this study will establish the efficacy of non-contrast MRI as a surveillance tool for HCC in high-risk patients.

Trial Registration: The date of trial registration ( NCT02551250 ) in this study was September 15, 2015, and follow-up is still ongoing.

Citing Articles

Non-contrast short MRI surveillance for HCC screening: the study protocol of the SMS-HCC prospective multicenter study.

de Braak C, Willemssen F, de Man R, van der Lugt A, Uyl-de Groot C, Bos D Eur Radiol Exp. 2024; 8(1):29.

PMID: 38467990 PMC: 10928023. DOI: 10.1186/s41747-024-00432-6.

Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance.

Park S, Kim B J Liver Cancer. 2023; 20(1):25-31.

PMID: 37383054 PMC: 10035704. DOI: 10.17998/jlc.20.1.25.

[Recent Updates of Abbreviated MRI for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening].

Kim J, Lee C Taehan Yongsang Uihakhoe Chi. 2022; 82(2):280-297.

PMID: 36238735 PMC: 9431949. DOI: 10.3348/jksr.2021.0025.

Imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: Future directions with special emphasis on hepatobiliary magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Park J, Lee J, Kim T, Yoon J Clin Mol Hepatol. 2021; 28(3):362-379.

PMID: 34955003 PMC: 9293611. DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2021.0361.

Progression of Prothrombin Induced by Vitamin K Absence-II in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Yang Y, Li G, Lu Z, Liu Y, Kong J, Liu J Front Oncol. 2021; 11:726213.

PMID: 34900676 PMC: 8660097. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.726213.

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