Per‐feature accuracy of liver imaging reporting and data system locoregional treatment response algorithm: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

We aimed to investigate the accuracy of each imaging feature of LI‐RADS treatment response (LR‐TR) viable category for diagnosing tumor viability of locoregional therapy (LRT)‐treated HCC. Studies evaluating the per feature accuracy of the LR‐TR viable category on dynamic contrast‐enhanced CT or MRI were identified in databases. A bivariate random‐effects model was used to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of LR‐TR viable features. Ten studies assessing the accuracies of LR‐TR viable features (1153 treated observations in 971 patients) were included. The pooled sensitivities and specificities for diagnosing viable HCC were 81% (95% confidence interval [CI], 63–92%) and 95% (95% CI, 88–98%) for nodular, mass‐like, or irregular thick tissue (NMLIT) with arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), 55% (95% CI, 34–75%) and 96% (95% CI, 94–98%) for NMLIT with washout appearance, and 21% (95% CI, 6–53%) and 98% (95% CI, 92–100%) for NMLIT with enhancement similar to pretreatment, respectively. Of these features, APHE showed the highest pooled DOR (81 [95% CI, 25–261]), followed by washout appearance (32 [95% CI, 13–82]) and enhancement similar to pre-treatment (14 [95% CI, 5–39]). In conclusion, APHE provided the highest sensitivity and DOR for diagnosing viable HCC following LRT, while enhancement similar to pretreatment showed suboptimal performance.