Key clinical point: Compared with the standard ultrasonography (US)-based imaging surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intensive surveillance using alternative computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to US may facilitate the diagnosis of very early-stage HCC without providing any survival advantage.
Major finding: Diagnosis of very early-stage HCC was better in the low- (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.44; P = .034) and high- (aOR 0.40; P = .014) intensive surveillance groups than in the standard surveillance group. However, overall survival remained unaffected by the surveillance intensity ( P > .05).
Study details: This was a retrospective cohort study including 529 patients with newly diagnosed HCC who were on regular surveillance and were monitored using only US (standard group; n = 62) or CT/MRI plus US (categorized into low-intensive group [n = 232] and high-intensive group [n = 235] based on the median percentage of CT/MRI investigations [cut-off, 27%]).
Disclosures: The study did not receive any funding. The authors disclosed no conflicts of interest.
Source: Hwang JA et al. Association between intensity of imaging surveillance and clinical outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Radiol. 2022;151:110328 (Apr 21). Doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2022.110328