Multimodality diagnosis of liver tumors: feature analysis with CT, liver-specific and contrast-enhanced MR, and a computer model.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure and to clarify the diagnostic contributions of image-based features in differentiating benign from malignant and hepatocyte-containing from non-hepatocyte-containing liver lesions.

Materials And Methods: Six experienced abdominal radiologists each read images from 146 cases (including a contrast material-enhanced computed tomographic [CT] scan and contrast-enhanced and unenhanced magnetic resonance [MR] images) following a checklist-questionnaire requiring them to rate quantitatively each of as many as 131 image features and then reported on each of the two differentiations. The diagnostic value of each feature was assessed, and linear discriminant analysis was used to develop statistical prediction rules (SPRs) for merging feature data into computerized "second opinions.