Detection of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinomas on enhanced CT: comparison with histologic findings.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of enhanced CT in making a diagnosis of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinomas (HCC-CCs) by comparing CT findings with histologic findings.
Conclusion: One third (nine of 27 cases) of the combined HCC-CCs were correctly diagnosed on enhanced CT by detailed analysis of the enhancing pattern around or within the mass. Various factors such as an atypical enhancing pattern, the size of each component, and the presence of a mass composed of intermediate tumor cells-that is, cells with intermediate characteristics between HCC and CC-were found to be the causes of misdiagnosis of combined HCC-CC on enhanced CT.