Distinction of hemangiomas from hepatic tumors with delayed enhancement by incremental dynamic CT

To analyze the patterns of contrast enhancement and to evaluate clinical utility, we performed table incremental dynamic CT in 21 patients with 30 hepatic hemangiomas and in 12 patients with 26 malignant neoplasms, which showed delayed enhancement. On incremental CT, dense, spotty peripheral enhancement was present in 23 of the 30 (77%) hemangiomas. In contrast, a circumferential bead- or band-like peripheral enhancement was seen in 19 of 26 (73%) malignant neoplasms. The findings were characteristic. We conclude that incremental CT is useful in the differential diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma in routine examination.