Abstract: Objective To explore the value of gadolinium oxalate disodium (Gd EOB DTPA) enhanced examination for small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) in the context of liver cirrhosis. Methods 72 cases of focal liver lesions in the context of liver cirrhosis were included in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2024. Gd EOB DTPA liver enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed on all cases. Using the pathological biopsy results as the gold standard, we observed and analyzed the imaging features of Gd EOB DTPA MRI enhanced scans, and compared the results and efficacy of Gd EOB DTPA MRI enhanced scans in distinguishing between benign and malignant liver focal nodules. Results 72 patients with focal liver lesions underwent pathological biopsy, and a total of 87 focal liver nodules were detected, including 50 benign nodules (57.47%, 50/87) (benign group); 37 malignant nodules (SHCC) (42.53%, 37/87) (malignant group). Compared with the benign group, the malignant group had a higher proportions of T1W1 low signal, DWI high signal, T2W1 high signal, hepatobiliary phase low signal, and arterial phase enhancement (P<0.05); Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI enhanced scans diagnosed 51 benign nodules (58.62%, 51/87) and 36 malignant nodules (41.38%, 36/87); The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Kappa value of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI in the differential diagnosis of SHCC were 89.66%, 86.49%, 92.00%, 88.89%, 88.89%, and 0.788%, respectively. Conclusion Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced examination has a good accuracy in diagnosing SHCC in the background of liver cirrhosis, and is consistent with the gold standard, which has a clinical application value.

Key words: Gadolinium selenide disodium enhancement test, Liver cirrhosis, Magnetic resonance imaging, Small hepatocellular carcinoma