Sclerosing hepatic carcinoma: helical CT features

The purpose of this study was to describe our experience, particularly for CT features, with four patients who had pathologically proven sclerosing hepatic carcinoma that mimicked other malignant hepatic tumors with abundant fibrosis at CT.

Over a 10-year period, we collected four patients with surgically proven sclerosing hepatic carcinoma. All patients were men (age range, 49-63 years; mean, 56 years). Three-phase helical CT images were obtained in all patients, and their CT features were correlated with pathologic findings.

The tumor size ranged from 2.7 to 11 cm (mean, 7.2 cm). The tumors were manifested as a hypoattenuating mass with peripheral, rim enhancement at hepatic arterial phase, followed by centripetal enhancement progressively during portal venous and equilibrium phases. Histopathologically, the tumors showed features intermediate between hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma with abundant fibrosis and surrounding liver had no liver cirrhosis.

As described above, the CT features of sclerosing hepatic carcinoma may be similar to other malignant hepatic tumors with abundant fibrosis. Although sclerosing hepatic carcinoma is extremely rare, the radiologists should recognize that this tumor may be one of the malignant hepatic tumors with abundant fibrosis, especially in the non-cirrhotic liver.