Imaging features based on CT and MRI for predicting prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a single-center study and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the prognostic role of imaging features based on CT and MRI in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). METHODS: Two hundred and four patients from a single-center database who underwent radical ICC surgery from 2010 to 2019 were enrolled in the study. Cox proportional hazard model was used for survival analysis of imaging features. A meta-analysis was performed to determine imaging features that predict overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) in ICC. RESULTS: In the CT group of the retrospective cohort, tumor multiplicity, infiltrative tumor margin, lymph node metastasis, enhancement pattern in hepatic arterial phase and tumor necrosis correlated with poorer EFS and OS; moreover, enhancing capsules, high carcinoembryonic antigen levels contributed to poor OS. In the MRI group, tumor multiplicity and enhancement pattern were prognostic factors for OS; tumor multiplicity and enhancement pattern resulted in poor EFS. A total of 13 articles containing 1822 patients with ICC were enrolled in the adjusted hazard ratios meta-analysis. The results showed that enhancement pattern and infiltrative tumor margin were predictors of OS and EFS, whereas bile duct invasion was a predictor of OS. CONCLUSIONS: Arterial enhancement patterns and tumor margin status were associated with both OS and EFS of ICC patients following resection. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40644-023-00576-5.