DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF TRIPLE PHASE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN DETECTING HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA KEEPING HISTOPATHOLOGY AS GOLD STANDARD

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy of triple phase computed tomography in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma keeping histopathalogical evaluation as gold standard.

Materials and Methods: A study was conducted in the in the Radiology Department of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from 18-03-2016 to 18-09-2016. Through a Descriptive Cross Sectional Study Design, a total of 365 patients suspected of having HCC were included in the study in a consecutive manner and subjected to triphasic CT followed by histopathology for the confirmation of HCC.

Results: 40.9 + 11.7 years was the mean age of patients. We had 60% males & 40% females. On CT we observed that the HCC was recorded in 60.3% of patients compared to 49.9% on histopathology. On applying the formulae for calculation, sensitivity of CT was found to be 90.1% and specificity 69.3%. The positive predictive value of the CT is 74.5% and negative predictive value is 87.5%.

Conclusion: Triphasic CT has shown high sensitivity and specificity for HCC detection. As such, it is a useful radiological marker for diagnosis of HCC in adults and further studies are recommended to confirm its usefulness.