Analysis of the Performance of Gadoxetic Acid Disodium MRI in Predicting Microvascular Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of gadoxetic acid disodium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: 87 HCC patients (2019-01–2022-01) admitted to the hospital were selected for retrospective analysis, gadoxetic acid disodium MRI scan was performed before surgery, and the patients were divided into two groups according to whether the MVI occurred, including the invasion group (n = 47) and the non-invasion group (n = 40). The influencing factors of MVI in HCC patients were explored, independent risk factors were determined, and the correlation between independent risk factors and MVI in HCC patients was analyzed. RESULTS: There were significant differences in tumor margin, peritumoral low signal (hepatobiliary phase), peritumoral enhancement (arterial phase), and peritumoral hyperintensity ring (arterial phase) between the two groups (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that unsmooth tumor margin, peritumoral low signal (hepatobiliary phase), peritumoral enhancement (arterial phase), and peritumoral hyperintensity ring (arterial phase) were independent risk factors for MVI in HCC patients (P < 0.05). The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that unsmooth tumor margin was negatively correlated with MVI in HCC patients (r = −0.66, P=0.037). Moreover, peritumoral low signal (hepatobiliary phase), peritumoral enhancement (arterial phase), and peritumoral hyperintensity ring (arterial phase) were positively correlated with MVI in HCC patients (r(1) = 0.63, r(2) = 0.68, r(3) = 0.72, P(1)= 0.030, P(2) = 0.023, P(3) = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Unsmooth tumor margin, peritumoral low signal (hepatobiliary phase), peritumoral enhancement (arterial phase), and peritumoral hyperintensity ring (arterial phase) are significantly correlated with MVI in patients with HCC, which can provide a reference for the formulation and implementation of clinical interventions.