Without biopsy, what imaging finding can diagnose HCC in cirrhotics?

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Multiple Choice

Without biopsy, what imaging finding can diagnose HCC in cirrhotics?

In a cirrhotic liver, hepatocellular carcinoma can be diagnosed noninvasively when imaging shows characteristic vascular patterns on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI. The hallmark is arterial phase hyperenhancement followed by washout in the portal venous or delayed phases, often with a capsule appearance. When these typical imaging features are present, the lesion falls into LI-RADS 4 or 5, which allows a confident noninvasive diagnosis of HCC without biopsy. LI-RADS 1 or 2 features describe clearly benign or probably benign lesions, not diagnostic for HCC, and elevated AFP alone does not provide an imaging diagnosis because it is not specific to HCC.

In a cirrhotic liver, hepatocellular carcinoma can be diagnosed noninvasively when imaging shows characteristic vascular patterns on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI. The hallmark is arterial phase hyperenhancement followed by washout in the portal venous or delayed phases, often with a capsule appearance. When these typical imaging features are present, the lesion falls into LI-RADS 4 or 5, which allows a confident noninvasive diagnosis of HCC without biopsy.

LI-RADS 1 or 2 features describe clearly benign or probably benign lesions, not diagnostic for HCC, and elevated AFP alone does not provide an imaging diagnosis because it is not specific to HCC.

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