Which imaging study is preferred to assess the vascular supply of a liver tumor?

The preferred imaging study to assess the vascular supply of a liver tumor is CT angiography. This technique provides detailed images of the blood vessels and allows for the evaluation of the arterial supply and venous drainage of the liver and any tumors present. CT angiography utilizes a contrast agent to enhance the visualization of vascular structures, making it particularly useful for identifying the blood supply to tumors, which is critical for determining treatment strategies such as surgical resection or ablation.

The importance of assessing vascular supply lies in understanding the tumor's relationship with surrounding blood vessels, which can influence surgical approach and prognosis. By effectively visualizing the arterial trees, CT angiography helps in distinguishing between different types of liver lesions based on their vascular characteristics.

Other imaging modalities, while useful for different aspects of liver evaluation, do not provide the same level of detail regarding vascular structures. For instance, contrast-enhanced ultrasound is good for liver lesions but is less definitive for vascular evaluation compared to CT angiography. MRI without contrast can show liver tumors and some vascular features but typically won’t depict the vessels as clearly as a CT angiography. X-ray lacks the necessary detail for assessing vascular anatomy in the liver entirely. Thus, in the context of evaluating the vascular supply specifically, CT angiography stands