LI-RADS Category Can Be a Post-Surgical Prognostic Factor for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis or Chronic Hepatitis B.

INTRODUCTION

The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) categorization has been proposed as a potential prognostic indicator for primary liver neoplasms in patients with liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B. This multicenter study aimed to determine whether LI-RADS categorization can offer additional post-surgical prognostic value for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) when used in conjunction with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) guidelines.

METHODS

Patients with high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, surgically confirmed ICCAs, and available preoperative MRI were enrolled. LI-RADS categorization of ICCAs was performed using MRI features, and multivariate analyses were conducted incorporating LI-RADS category, AJCC staging, and clinicopathologic factors to evaluate their predictive value for postoperative recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). In patients with early recurrence (<2 years), the percentages of AJCC stage I and LR-M or LR tumor-in-vein (TIV) were calculated, respectively.

RESULTS

Among the 166 ICCAs analyzed, 13.3% (22/166) were classified as LR-4/5, 77.7% (129/166) as LR-M, and 9.0% (15/166) as LR TIV. Classifications according to the 8th AJCC guidelines for patients with available post-surgical pathologic data and follow-up imaging were 40.6% (63/155) stage I tumors, 23.9% (37/155) stage II, and 35.5% (55/155) stage III. Multivariate analysis revealed that LI-RADS category (LR-M or LR-TIV) was a significant factor for predicting both RFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.86, p = 0.02) and OS (HR = 3.18, p = 0.03). Additionally, AJCC staging (II or III) was a significant factor for RFS (HR = 3.90, p < 0.001) and OS (HR = 3.29, p < 0.001), male sex was a significant factor for RFS (HR = 1.89, p = 0.006) and OS (HR = 2.23, p = 0.002), and positive resection margin was a significant factor for OS (HR = 1.91, p = 0.03). Among the 80 patients with early recurrence, 97.5% displayed LR-M or LR-TIV features, while 11.3% were AJCC stage I patients.

CONCLUSION

The MRI-based preoperative LI-RADS categorization of ICCA provides additional post-surgical prognostic value beyond the AJCC guidelines, with significant implications for both RFS and OS.