Triphasic Helical CT Scan :Value of Arterial Phase Acquisition in Detection of Focal Lesion in Cirrhotic Liver

Background: To determine the value of triple phaseCT scan and the phase acquisition in which maximumtumour conspicuity can be obtained, in a population ofpatients with chronic liver disease.Methods: In this descriptive study tripahsic CT scan of50 chronic liver disease patients who presented withsonographic suspicion of space occupying lesion, wereevaluated. CT scan appearances of different focal liverlesions , in arterial and portal venous phases, wereevaluated . Tumour conspicuity was assessed on differentphases of CT acquisition to determine the phase whichprovided maximum tumour to parenchymal difference,while using multidetector CT with fixed timing delay.Results: Focal hepatic lesion was found to be present in41 out of 50 patients. 24 patients had morphologicalcharacteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Tumourwas found to be most conspicuous in late arterial phase ofacquisition in 30 patientsConclusion: Triphasic helical CT of liver, using early,late arterial and portal venous phases with fixed timingdelays is quick, easy and non-invasive useful imagingmodality in detection and characterization of focal lesionsand especially diagnosis of HCC in cirrhotic patients