ArticleAbdominal radiology (New York)2026
HCC within LR-M on CEUS LI-RADS: preliminary analysis of washout timing & intensity.
Article in Abdominal radiology (New York), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeWithin LI-RADS categorization, LR-M nodules are probably or definitely malignant, but not specific for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is variably encountered within the LR-M category, representing 36 to 44% [1, 2]. We analyze CEUS imaging features within LR-M to determine their ability to predict the presence of HCC.
methodsThis single-centre preliminary retrospective study reviewed 100 CEUS examinations of LR-M nodules in at-risk livers going backwards from January 2025. CEUS arterial phase enhancement and washout features were documented and classified according to the CEUS LI-RADS v2017 algorithm. Reference standards for HCC diagnosis included histopathology or concordant findings on CT/MR. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for each CEUS feature.
resultsWithin LR-M, rapid onset of weak washout before 1 min and persisting as weak to 5 min displayed the greatest diagnostic performance for identifying HCC within LR-M. This feature was present in 38/49 (77.6%) of HCCs and achieved a sensitivity of 77.6%, specificity of 64.7%, PPV of 67.9%, and NPV of 75.0%. When combined with non-rim arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), rapid onset of weak washout before 1 min increased specificity to 80.4% and reduced sensitivity to 61.2%, with a PPV of 75.0% and NPV of 68.3%. Rim APHE with late weak washout was observed in only 4/49 (8.2%) of HCCs and did not reach statistical significance. Other washout patterns in LR-M nodules proven to be HCC, including rapid marked and late weak washout, were infrequently encountered and demonstrated limited diagnostic value.
conclusionRapid onset of weak washout prior to 1 min and sustained as weak to 5 min, in combination with non-rim APHE, is the most reliable CEUS feature for prediction of HCC within LR-M. Our additional observations for suspicion of HCC within this category facilitate decision-making and patient management. Future investigations should include a prospective, multi-centred effort.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42629455What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.