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Hyung‐Jin Lee

Yonsei University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Hyung-Jin Lee's research lab specializes in abdominal radiology and medical imaging, with a primary focus on the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of liver and pancreatic malignancies using advanced cross-sectional imaging techniques. The lab investigates the histopathological and molecular correlates of imaging features in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma, particularly the role of tumor microenvironment interactions—such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and epithelial cells—in regulating biomarkers like KRT19. They also develop and validate novel imaging criteria, especially using gadoxetate-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI), to improve early detection and characterization of liver tumors. Their work bridges radiological imaging with molecular pathology to enhance precision diagnosis and clinical decision-making in hepatobiliary diseases.

gadoxetate-enhanced MRIhepatocellular carcinomatumor microenvironmentKRT19 expressionpancreatic cancer imaging

Research Overview

Papers
133
Total Citations
3,567
Papers (5y)
71
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
71total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
348total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|126 citations·2020
Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI of macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma and its prognostic implications
Hyungjin Rhee, Eun‐Suk Cho, Ji Hae Nahm, Mi Jang, Yong Eun Chung, Song‐Ee Baek, Sunyoung Lee, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Mi‐Suk Park, Dai Hoon Han, Jin‐Young Choi, Young Nyun Park
SJR Q1Journal of Hepatology
HepatologyMedicine
2
Article|122 citations·2018
Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Irregular Rim-Like Arterial Phase Hyperenhancement: More Aggressive Pathologic Features
Hyungjin Rhee, Chansik An, Hyeyoung Kim, Jeong Eun Yoo, Young Nyun Park, Myeong‐Jin Kim
SJR Q1Liver CancerOA

<b><i>Background and Aims:</i></b> The purpose of our study was to examine the histopathologic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with irregular rim-like arterial phase enhancement (IRE), which has been reported to be associated with more aggressive tumor behavior. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We investigated 84 pathologically confirmed HCCs in 84 patients who underwent curative hepatic resection after gadoxetate-enhanced magnetic resonanc

HepatologyMedicine
3
Article|89 citations·2018
Keratin 19 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is Regulated by Fibroblast-Derived HGF via a MET-ERK1/2-AP1 and SP1 Axis
Hyungjin Rhee, Hyeyoung Kim, Ji Hye Choi, Hyun Goo Woo, Jeong Eun Yoo, Ji Hae Nahm, Jin-Sub Choi, Young Nyun Park
SJR Q1Cancer ResearchOA

Abstract Keratin (KRT) 19 is a poor prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, regulatory mechanisms underlying its expression remain unclear. We have previously reported the presence of fibrous tumor stroma in KRT19-positive HCC, suggesting that cross-talk between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and tumor epithelial cells could regulate KRT19 expression. This was investigated in this study using an in vitro model of paracrine interaction between HCC cell lines (HepG2, SN

Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
4
Article|71 citations·2016
Poor outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma with stemness marker under hypoxia: resistance to transarterial chemoembolization
Hyungjin Rhee, Ji Hae Nahm, Haeryoung Kim, Gi Hong Choi, Jeong Eun Yoo, Hye Sun Lee, Myoung Ju Koh, Young Nyun Park
SJR Q1Modern PathologyOA
Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|70 citations·2012
Differentiation of early hepatocellular carcinoma from benign hepatocellular nodules on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI
Hyungjin Rhee, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Mi‐Suk Park, Kyoung Ah Kim
SJR Q1British Journal of RadiologyOA

Our new diagnostic criteria on Gd-EOB-MRI may help to improve the discrimination of early HCC from benign hepatocellular nodules.

HepatologyMedicine
6
Review|68 citations·2020
The Role of Imaging in Current Treatment Strategies for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Hyungjin Rhee, Mi‐Suk Park
SJR Q1Korean Journal of RadiologyOA

In pancreatic cancer, imaging plays an essential role in surveillance, diagnosis, resectability evaluation, and treatment response evaluation. Pancreatic cancer surveillance in high-risk individuals has been attempted using endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Imaging diagnosis and resectability evaluation are the most important factors influencing treatment decisions, where computed tomography (CT) is the preferred modality. EUS, MRI, and positron emission tomography

OncologyMedicine
7
Article|55 citations·2017
Transcriptomic and histopathological analysis of cholangiolocellular differentiation trait in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Hyungjin Rhee, Jung Eun Ko, Taek Chung, Byul A Jee, So Mee Kwon, Ji Hae Nahm, Jae Yeon Seok, Jeong Eun Yoo, Jin‐Sub Choi, Snorri S. Thorgeirsson, Jesper B. Andersen, Hye Sun Lee
SJR Q1Liver InternationalOA

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a heterogeneous entity with diverse aetiologies, morphologies and clinical outcomes. Recently, histopathological distinction of cholangiolocellular differentiation (CD) of iCCA has been suggested. However, its genome-wide molecular features and clinical significance remain unclear. METHODS: Based on CD status, we stratified iCCAs into iCCA with CD (n=20) and iCCA without CD (n=102), and performed an integrative analysis using transcrip

SurgeryMedicine
8
Article|52 citations·2018
A proposal of imaging classification of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma into ductal and parenchymal types: clinicopathologic significance
Hyungjin Rhee, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Young Nyun Park, Chansik An
SJR Q1European RadiologyOA
SurgeryMedicine
9
Article|51 citations·2011
Gadoxetic acid‐enhanced MRI findings of early hepatocellular carcinoma as defined by new histologic criteria
Hyungjin Rhee, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Young Nyun Park, Jin‐Sub Choi, Kyung Sik Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE: To describe the imaging features of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI) in comparison with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed imaging findings of 19 pathologically proven early HCC lesions in 15 patients who underwent both MDCT and Gd-EOB-MRI at 3.0 Tesla (T) units before surgery. MRI included in-phase and out-of-phase T1-weighted dual-echo gradient-recalled-echo sequences, dynamic T1-wei

HepatologyMedicine
10
Review|51 citations·2020
Clinico-Radio-Pathological and Molecular Features of Hepatocellular Carcinomas with Keratin 19 Expression
Hyungjin Rhee, Haeryoung Kim, Young Nyun Park
SJR Q1Liver CancerOA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous neoplasm, both from the molecular and histomorphological aspects. One example of heterogeneity is the expression of keratin 19 (K19) in a subset (4-28%) of HCCs. The presence of K19 expression in HCCs has important clinical implications, as K19-positive HCCs have been associated with aggressive tumor biology and poor prognosis. Histomorphologically, K19-positive HCCs demonstrate a more infiltrative appearance, poor histological differentiation, m

Cell BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
11
Article|46 citations·2020
Gross type of hepatocellular carcinoma reflects the tumor hypoxia, fibrosis, and stemness-related marker expression
Hyungjin Rhee, Taek Chung, Jeong Eun Yoo, Ji Hae Nahm, Ha Young Woo, Gi Hong Choi, Dai Hoon Han, Young Nyun Park
SJR Q1Hepatology InternationalOA
HepatologyMedicine
12
Article|44 citations·2020
The Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) Yield a More Accurate Prognoses Than the RECIST 1.1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Transarterial Radioembolization
Jae Seung Lee, Hong Jun Choi, Beom Kyung Kim, Jun Yong Park, Do Young Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Kwang‐Hyub Han, Song‐Ee Baek, Yong Eun Chung, Mi‐Suk Park, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Hyungjin Rhee
SJR Q1Gut and LiverOA

Response evaluations that use the mRECIST provide more accurate prognoses than those that use the RECIST 1.1 in HCC patients treated with TARE.

HepatologyMedicine
13
Article|31 citations·2022
Comparison of imaging findings of macrotrabecular-massive hepatocellular carcinoma using CT and gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI
Hyunho Cha, Jin‐Young Choi, Young Nyun Park, Kyunghwa Han, Mi Jang, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Mi‐Suk Park, Hyungjin Rhee
SJR Q1European Radiology
HepatologyMedicine
14
Article|29 citations·2022
Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging‐based prognostic model for mass‐forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Hyungjin Rhee, Sang Hyun Choi, Ji Hoon Park, Eun‐Suk Cho, Suk Keu Yeom, Sumi Park, Kyunghwa Han, Seung Soo Lee, Mi‐Suk Park
SJR Q1Liver InternationalOA

BACKGROUND & AIMS: As most staging systems for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) are based on pathological results, preoperative prognostic prediction is limited. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic model for the overall survival of patients with mass-forming iCCA (MF-iCCA) using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical findings. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 316 patients who underwent preoperative MRI and surgical resection for treatment-naive MF-iCCA

SurgeryMedicine
15
Article|18 citations·2025
Noncontrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging vs Ultrasonography for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance: A Randomized, Single-Center Trial
Hyungjin Rhee, Myeong‐Jin Kim, Do Young Kim, Chansik An, Wonseok Kang, Kyunghwa Han, Yun Ho Roh, Kwang‐Hyub Han, Sang Hoon Ahn, Jin‐Young Choi, Jun Yong Park, Yong Eun Chung
SJR Q1GastroenterologyOA
HepatologyMedicine

Research Areas

SurgeryHepatologyMolecular BiologyCell BiologyEpidemiologyOncology

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