The Combination of Non-contrast Abbreviated MRI and Alpha Foetoprotein Has High Performance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening

Objectives: This study aimed to compare two abbreviated MRI (AMRI) protocols to complete MRI for HCC detection: non-contrast (NC)-AMRI without/with alpha foetoprotein (AFP) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (Dyn)-AMRI.

Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 351 patients (M/F: 264/87, mean age: 57y) with chronic liver disease, who underwent MRI for HCC surveillance between 2014 and 2020. Two reconstructed AMRI sets were obtained based on complete MRI: NC-AMRI (T2-weighted imaging (WI) + diffusion-WI) and Dyn-AMRI (T2-WI + dynamic T1-WI) and were assessed by 2 radiologists who reported all suspicious lesions, using LI-RADS/adapted LI-RADS classification. The reference standard was based on all available patient data. Inter-reader agreement was assessed and MRI diagnostic performance was compared to the reference standard.

Results: The reference standard demonstrated 83/351 HCC-positive patients (prevalence: 23.6%, median size: 22 mm, and positive MRIs: 83/631). Inter-reader agreement was substantial for all sets. Sensitivities of Dyn-AMRI and complete MRI (both 92.8%) were similar, higher than NC-AMRI (72.3%, p < 0.001). Specificities were not different between sets. NC-AMRI + AFP (92.8%) had similar sensitivity to Dyn-AMRI and complete MRI. In patients with small size HCCs (≤ 2 cm), sensitivities of Dyn-AMRI (85.3%) and complete MRI (88.2%) remained similar (p = 0.564), also outperforming NC-AMRI (52.9%, p < 0.05). NC-AMRI + AFP had similar sensitivity (88.2%) to Dyn-AMRI and complete MRI (p = 0.706 and p = 1, respectively).

Conclusions: Dyn-AMRI has similar diagnostic performance to complete MRI for HCC detection, while both outperform NC-AMRI, especially for small size HCCs. NC-AMRI + AFP demonstrates similar sensitivity to Dyn-AMRI and complete MRI.

Clinical Relevance Statement: Due to the low sensitivity of ultrasound for hepatocellular screening, new screening methods are needed. Abbreviated MRI (AMRI) is a candidate, especially non-contrast AMRI with serum alpha foetoprotein as the acquisition time is low, without the need for contrast medium injection.

Key Points: • Dynamic contrast-enhanced abbreviated MRI using extracellular gadolinium-based contrast agent and complete MRI have similar diagnostic performance for hepatocellular carcinoma detection in an at-risk population. • Non-contrast abbreviated MRI with alpha foetoprotein has similar diagnostic performance to dynamic contrast-enhanced abbreviated MRI and complete MRI, including when considering small size hepatocellular carcinoma  ≤ 2 cm. • Non-contrast abbreviated MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced abbreviated MRI can be performed in 7 and 10 min, excluding patient setup time.