Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40227785›Full record

ArticleCancers2025

Distinguishing Hepatocellular Carcinoma from Cirrhotic Regenerative Nodules Using MR Cytometry.

Xiaoyu Jiang, Mary Kay Washington, Manhal J Izzy, Ming Lu, Xinqiang Yan, Zhongliang Zu, John C Gore, Junzhong Xu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Xiaoyu JiangVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Mary Kay WashingtonDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Manhal J IzzyDepartment of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Ming LuVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Xinqiang YanVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4232-3241
Zhongliang ZuVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7361-7480
John C GoreVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Junzhong XuVanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

Funding

MRI Diffusion in Tumors Using Oscillating GradientsR01CA109106 · NCI · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI XU, JUNZHONG · 2006 to 2022
$4.0M
MRI of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes using MRI-cytometryR01CA269620 · NCI · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI XU, JUNZHONG · 2022 to 2025
$2.3M
in vivo MR characterization of pathological changes in liver microstructuresR01DK135950 · NIDDK · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI Xiaoyu Jiang · 2024 to 2026
$1.2M
Differentiation of tumor progression from radiation necrosis using MR cell size imagingR21CA270731 · NCI · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI XU, JUNZHONG · 2023 to 2024
$440k
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA109106NCI NIH HHS R01 CA269620NCI NIH HHS R21 CA270731NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK135950NIH HHS 5R01CA269620-03A1NIH HHS 5R01DK135950-02A1NIH HHS 5R21CA270731-02A1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesCurrent guidelines recommend contrast-enhanced CT/MRI as confirmatory imaging tests for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, these modalities are not always able to differentiate HCC from benign/dysplastic nodules that are commonly observed in cirrhotic livers. Consequently, many lesions require either pathological confirmation via invasive biopsy or surveillance imaging after 3-6 months, which results in delayed diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to develop noninvasive imaging biomarkers of liver cell size and cellularity, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to assess their utility in identifying HCC.

methodsMR cytometry combines measurements of water diffusion rates over different times corresponding to probing cellular microstructure at different spatial scales. Maps of microstructural properties, such as cell size and cellularity, are derived by fitting voxel values in multiple diffusion-weighted images to a three-compartment (blood, intra-, and extracellular water) model of the MRI signal. This method was validated in two phases: (1) histology-driven simulations, utilizing segmented histological images of different liver pathologies, and (2) ex vivo MR cytometry performed on fixed human liver specimens.

resultsBoth simulations and ex vivo MR cytometry of fixed human liver specimens demonstrated that HCC exhibits significantly smaller cell sizes and higher cellularities compared to normal liver and cirrhotic regenerative nodules.

conclusionThis study highlights the potential of MR cytometry to differentiate HCC from non-HCC lesions by quantifying cell size and cellularity in liver tissues. Our findings provide a strong foundation for further research into the role of MR cytometry in the noninvasive early diagnosis of HCC.

Indexed as

cell sizecellularitycirrhotic regenerative nodulediffusionhepatocellular carcinomaMR cytometry

Identifiers

PMID40227785
PMCPMC11987932

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.