Value of magnetic resonance functional imaging in evaluating microvascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma

Microvascular invasion, as a predictive factor for postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) , can only be diagnosed by the gold standard of pathological histology at present. Conventional imaging examination and serological markers have low sensitivity and specificity in evaluating microvascular invasion. Preoperative prediction and evaluation of microvascular invasion has an important value in selecting clinical treatment and assessing patient diagnosis. In recent years, magnetic resonance (MR) functional imaging and new contrast agents have been developing rapidly and have become the research hotspots in early diagnosis of HCC, postoperative follow-up of treatment outcome, and recurrence evaluation. This article elaborates on the significance of apparent diffusion coefficient of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating microvascular invasion, as well as the potential value of intravoxel incoherent motion-magnetic resonance imaging and a new diffusion model of diffusion kurtosis imaging. This article also analyzes the application of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and Gd-EOB-DTPA-specific MR in evaluating microvascular invasion and predicting postoperative recurrence. The analysis shows that the development of MR functional imaging and the application of several new techniques play an important role in the assessment of microvascular invasion of HCC and can determine the risk of postoperative recurrence and metastasis and provide reliable quantitative assessment indices for early diagnosis and reasonable application of surgery and other treatment methods.