US LI-RADS: Ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system application for screening and surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma during national mass screening campaign for patients with positive HCV serological test

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to apply Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (US LI-RADS) to the patients with positive serological HCV test surveyed during the national mass screening campaign. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study that recruited patients with positive serological test for HCV, who underwent the national mass screening campaign during the period from April 2019 to June 2020. Each operator was required to classify the patients into one of the following three categories according to the US visualization into: A, no or minimal limitations; (2) B, moderate limitations; and (3) C, severe limitations. Results: A total of 763 HCV patients were recruited in the present study. Conclusion: US is the modality of choice during mass screening for HCC, yet the presence of the human factor (being operator dependent) and the lack of unified reporting scheme were drawbacks; thus US- LI-RADS, overcome the latter drawback with ready to go plan according to the given score of each individual patient.