Sensitivity of ultrasound in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in obese patients compared to explant pathology as the gold standard

Abstract

Background/Aims

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends ultrasound (US) screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among cirrhotic patients, regardless of body mass index (BMI), every 6 months. We examined US sensitivity for diagnosis of HCC in obese patients.

Methods

Liver transplant patients data with HCC in explant was used (January 2012-December 2017). All patients underwent liver US within 3 months of diagnosis of HCC. Number/size of HCC lesions were extracted from radiologic and pathologic reports. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m².

Results

One hundred sixteen patients were included. 80% were male, with mean BMI of 31 kg/m². The most common underlying liver disease was hepatitis C virus (62%). At the time of diagnosis, median number of HCC lesions was 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1–3), and median size of the largest lesion was 2.5 cm (IQR, 1.75–3.9). Overall sensitivity of US study for detection of HCC was 33% (95% confidence interval [CI], 29–48%). Sensitivity was 77% (95% CI, 62–93%) in patients with BMI<30 and 21% (95% CI, 11–30%) in patients with BMI≥30 (P<0.001). Size of the largest HCC lesion (P=0.290) and number of lesions (P=0.505) were not different between groups. Computed tomography (CT) scan detected HCC in 98% of the obese patients with negative US.

Conclusions

Sensitivity of US for detection of HCC is significantly lower among obese patients compared to overweight and normal weight patients. These patients may benefit from alternating between US and a different imaging modality.

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the world [1]. HCC usually happens in the context of pre-existing chronic liver disease, and its clinical diagnosis is difficult, commonly necessitating using an imaging modality for diagnosis [2]. As cirrhosis is the single most important risk factor for HCC in North America, national and international clinical guidelines recommend surveillance of all patients with cirrhosis for HCC [2-5]. Imaging the liver or using blood levels of biomarkers have been studied as potential surveillance strategies. Measuring the plasma levels of alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) for screening of HCC has poor accuracy [6,7], and its use for surveillance, especially as a stand-alone test is discouraged by current practice guidelines [2]. Although contrast-enhanced liver computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been validated as accurate diagnostic tests for HCC [8,9]. their use for surveillance is costly and accumulating radiation exposure over time in case of CT is problematic. Therefore currently a liver ultrasound (US) every 6 months is recommended as the surveillance strategy of choice for patients with cirrhosis [2-4].

Use of ultrasound for HCC surveillance in obese patients has been reported to be controversial due to potentially decreased accuracy [5,10,11]. Prevalence of obesity has been increasing both in United States and globally [12]. Moreover, obesity is a major risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [13-15] and recent studies show an increase in prevalence of NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis, as well as an increase in NAFLD as the underlying liver disease in patients with HCC [16-20]. Given these trends which lead to increasing frequency of obesity among patients with cirrhosis and HCC [21,22], it is important to evaluate the impact of obesity on the accuracy of US for surveillance of HCC.

In this retrospective study, we evaluated the accuracy of US for surveillance of HCC among liver transplant patients, using pathologic examination of the explant as the gold standard for diagnosis of HCC. The effect of patients’ body mass index (BMI) on the accuracy of US for HCC surveillance was assessed and compared to the results of MRI and CT in such population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study population and data collection

The study protocol was approved by the Cleveland Clinic Institutional Review Board. Between January 2012 and December 2017, consecutive liver transplant patients who were diagnosed with HCC based on the pathologic examination of their explant entered the study. In each explant, the number of HCC lesions, their diameter, and the histological differentiation of the tumor were recorded. For each liver transplant, patient’s gender, age, BMI at the time of transplant, underlying liver disease, and date of transplant were recorded. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30. Electronic medical records of these patients were reviewed and data was extracted on the date of diagnosis of HCC. Also, the method of HCC diagnosis was recorded (i.e., US, CT, MRI, or diagnosed during the examination of the explant).

For patients whose HCC was first diagnosed based on a screening US, data was extracted from the US findings, including date of US, number of HCC lesions, and size of the largest lesion. For patients whose HCC was diagnosed based on a diagnostic test other than US, same data was extracted from a screening US within a 3-month period prior from the date of diagnosis of HCC. Similar data on presence or absence of HCC and characteristics of lesions were collected on CT and MRI findings when applicable.

Sensitivity of US for diagnosis of HCC was calculated and compared to the gold standard which was diagnosis of HCC in explant pathology. US sensitivity in diagnosis of HCC was compared between different BMI subgroups. Additionally, diagnostic utility of CT and MRI imaging was evaluated for diagnosis of HCC.

Statistical analysis

All analysis was done with stata data analysis and statistical software (version 11.2 SE; StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA). Variables are reported as number (percentage), mean (standard deviation) or median (interquartile range, IQR). Categorical variables are compared between groups with chi-square test. Interval variables are compared between groups with Wilcoxon rank-sum and t-tests. Confidence intervals (CIs) for proportions are calculated using normal distribution approximation. P-value less than 5% was defined as clinically significant. All P-values are two-sided.

RESULTS

Patient characteristics

Between January 2012 and December 2017, 169 consecutive liver transplantations were confirmed to have HCC in pathological examination of the explant. One hundred and sixteen patients had at least one screening US within the 3-month period of the date of diagnosis of HCC and were included in the study. Main risk factor for HCC in all these patients was known diagnosis of cirrhosis. AFP was elevated in 83% of the patients (mean of 48±12). In all cases HCC was identified in the background of cirrhosis. On pathology exam, 66% of the patients had well-differentiated HCC, 30 had moderately-differentiated HCC, 4% had poorly-differentiated HCC.

73% of these patients received at least one type of locoregional therapy prior to liver transplant (including radiofrequency ablation/micro wave ablation in 41%, transarterial chemoembolization and bland embolization in 25% and transarterial radioembloization in 7% of the patients). The majority of study population was male and obese (80% and 65%, respectively). Mean BMI was 31 kg/m² (range, 20–43). Overall 62% of the patients had a BMI ≥30 kg/m² and 38% of the patients had BMI <30 kg/m². The most common underlying liver disease was chronic hepatitis C virus infection in 72 patients (65.0%), followed by alcoholic cirrhosis in 16 (13.7%), and NASH in eight patients (6.8%). Less common etiologies for cirrhosis were cryptogenic cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, primary biliary cholangitis, hemochromatosis and alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, in order of frequency.

The mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Na score at the time of transplant was 18. 13% of the patients were Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A, 34% class B and 53% class C at the time of transplant. On average patients had 2.0 (IQR, 1–3) HCC lesions on pathologic examination with the average size of the largest lesion being 2.5 cm (IQR, 1.75–3.9) (Table 1). In all patients, post transplantation immunosuppression regimen consisted of different combinations of tacrolimus, or cyclosporine, and mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone.

Table 1.

Charactersitics of patients with HCC

Variable	Value
Total	116
Male	93 (80)
Age, mean (range)	58 (48–71)
BMI	31±4.4
BMI ≥30	75 (65)
Hypertension	42 (7)
Diabetes mellitus	15 (17)
MELD	18±5
CTP score (%)
A	13
B	34
C	53
Number of HCC lesions*	2 (1–3)
Size of largest HCC lesion* (cm)	2.5 (1.75–3.9)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation, number (%), or median (interquartile range).

HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; BMI, body mass index; MELD, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease; CTP, Child-Turcotte-Pugh.

^*Based on pathological examination of the explant.

Diagnosis of HCC and sensitivity of US

Among the 116 patients, 38 (32.7%) had their HCC diagnosed by US. Sixty-five (56.0%) were diagnosed by CT, three (2.6%) with MRI, and 10 (8.6%) were diagnosed after transplant by examination of the explant. The method of HCC diagnosis was significantly different depending on patient’s body habitus and weight. While in the majority of patients (59%) with BMI <30, the diagnosis was made with US; in the majority of patient (67%) with BMI ≥30, HCC diagnosis was made with CT scan (P-value <0.001) (Table 2).

Table 2.

Characteristic of HCC lesions

Characteristics of patients and their HCC lesions	BMI		P-value
	<30	≥30
Number	41 (35)	75 (65)	NA
Mean BMI	26±2.5	33±2.9	NA
Mean age	57±9	59±7	0.152
Male	33 (81)	60 (80)	0.950
HCC first diagnosed by
US	24 (59)	14 (19)	<0.001
CT	15 (37)	50 (67)
MRI	1 (2)	2 (3)
Pathology	1 (2)	9 (12)
Number of HCC lesions at diagnosis*	1 (1–2)	1 (1–2)	0.734
Size of largest HCC lesion at diagnosis* (cm)	2.2 (1.8–4)	2 (1.8–3)	0.373
Number of HCC lesions in the explant†	2 (1–3)	1 (1–3)	0.545
Sensitivity of US (CI) (%)	77 (62–93)	21 (11–30)	<0.001

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation, number (%), or median(interquartile range) unless otherwise indicated.

HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; BMI, body mass index; NA, not applicable; US, ultrasound; CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

^*As reported at diagnosis with US, CT, MRI or pathological exam of explant.

^†As reported on pathological exam of the explant.

Overall sensitivity of a single US for detection of HCC was 33% (95% CI, 24–41%) in the study population. When sensitivity of US was calculated for each subgroup of patients based on their BMI, the sensitivity was 59% (95% CI, 43–74%) in non-obese patients, as compared to sensitivity of 19% (95% CI, 10–28%) in obese patients (P-value <0.001). Age, gender, number and size of largest HCC lesion at diagnosis were not significantly different between non-obese and obese patients (Table 2).

Seventeen non-obese patients (41%) and 61 obese patients (81%) had falsely negative US within 6 months of HCC diagnosis detected by another diagnostic method. Sixteen out of 17 non-obese patients (94%) and 52 out of 61 obese patients (85%) with falsely negative US had been evaluated for HCC with either CT or MRI. Alternate imaging with either CT or MRI had a sensitivity of 100% in both groups for diagnosis of HCC.

DISCUSSION

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recommends screening for HCC in cirrhotic patients using ultrasound every 6 months [23]. The reported sensitivity of unenhanced ultrasound for detection of HCC varies significantly based on different studies (between 34% and 100%) [24]. However, it has been shown that sensitivity of ultrasound drops significantly in obese patients [25]. AASLD recommendations regarding HCC screening has been made regardless of the BMI of the patient. Considering the lower sensitivity of US in detecting HCC in obese patients, current HCC recommendations can potentially cause a delay in diagnosis of HCC in this patient population. This can be one of the reasons for the worse prognosis and larger tumor size in patients with NASH induced HCC [25].

This needs extra attention given the high prevalence and growing number of obese population in the United States. Based on the report form Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity was 36.5% (crude estimate) among United States adult population during 2011–2014, which is more than one-third of this population. From 1999–2000 through 2013–2014, a significant increase in obesity was observed in adults [26]. Lower sensitivity of ultrasound in obese patients and risk of delay in timely diagnosis of HCC, has a significant effect on prognosis, treatment options (cure vs. palliative measures) as well as on long-term survival post liver transplant. Mazzaferro et al. [27] showed a higher post transplantation recurrence rates in patients with single lesion larger than 5 cm or multiple nodules any of which exceeds 3 cm. This is the rationale behind Milan criteria, used by United Network for Organ Sharing.

In a study done by Chalasani et al. [28] in 1999, 84% of the 473 members of AASLD indicated use of some form of surveillance practice, with majority (69%) using ultrasound as the only imaging modality. In our study, ultrasound sensitivity in detecting HCC was assessed in the entire studied population as well as in different BMI sub-groups. Overall sensitivity of a single US for detection of HCC was 33% (95% CI, 24–41%) in the study population. It was shown that, sensitivity of ultrasound drops significantly as BMI increases. US sensitivity in detecting HCC was 59% (95% CI, 43–74%) in non-obese patients with BMI <30, as compared to sensitivity of 19% (95% CI, 10–28%) in obese patients with BM ≥30 (P-value <0.001).

This study has some limitations. First, this is a retrospective study with all its inherent limitations. Second, liver ultrasound was performed by different radiologists and therefore prone to interobserver variability. The other limitation of this study is possibility of missed sub centimeter HCCs on the explants which can be missed on 5–10 mm sectioning.

Theoretically, using an alternative method of imaging for HCC screening, CT scan or MRI, can potentially decrease the rate of missed cases of HCC and reduce the delay in diagnosis and treatment of this cancer. However, performing CT scan every 6 months (as recommended by AASLD), imposes a significant accumulative radiation dose over years. One option would be applying different methods of imaging, i.e., alternating ultrasound and CT scan or MRI every 6 months.

Based on this study, and due to the concern with US sensitivity in detecting HCC –especially in obese patients– and given the prognostic significance of earlier diagnosis; a more sensitive imaging modality especially in obese population appears to be a necessity.

Abbreviations

AASLD

American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

AFP

alfafetoprotein

BMI

body mass index

CI

confidence interval

CT

computed tomography

HCC

hepatocellular carcinoma

IQR

interquartile range

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging

NAFLD

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

NASH

non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

US

ultrasound

Study Highlights

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recommends ultrasound (US) screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with cirrhosis, regardless of body mass index (BMI), every 6 months. However based on this study sensitivity of US for detection of HCC is significantly lower among obese patients compared to overweight and normal weight patients. These patients may benefit from alternating between US and a different imaging modality, i.e., computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.