[Contribution of spiral CT for the early diagnosis of hepato-cellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients].

Purpose: To evaluate the specificity of spiral CT for early diagnosis of small hepato-cellular carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: One or several hepatic hypervascular nodules, with a diameter smaller than or equal to 3cm and suspected of corresponding to small hepato-cellular carcinoma, were detected during the arterial phase of spiral CT in 55 patients. The diagnosis of the main nodule could be established in 31 patients by pathologic examination, elevated alpha-foeto-protein level or follow-up examination.