[Liver imaging: pitfalls, pseudolesions and pseudotumors]

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Hepatology

Background:

• Liver pseudolesions can mimic primary liver cancer or metastases on imaging.
• Accurate identification is essential for appropriate patient management and avoiding unnecessary interventions.
• Various etiologies contribute to the formation of liver pseudolesions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of recognizing liver pseudolesions in diagnostic imaging.
• To describe the different types and imaging characteristics of liver pseudolesions.
• To emphasize the role of advanced imaging techniques in pseudolesion detection.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging findings associated with liver pseudolesions.
• Correlation of imaging features with underlying etiologies such as perfusion abnormalities, fatty liver, fibrosis, and radiation hepatitis.
• Utilizing multidetector computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Main Results:

• Liver pseudolesions present with diverse imaging features, including straight borders.
• Common causes include perfusion abnormalities, fatty liver, confluent fibrosis, and radiation hepatitis.
• Advanced imaging modalities like multidetector CT and MR imaging enhance detection rates.

Conclusions:

• Radiologists must be adept at identifying liver pseudolesions to prevent misdiagnosis.
• Understanding the spectrum of pseudolesions and their causes is vital for accurate interpretation.
• Multidetector CT and MR imaging are key tools in the routine detection of these entities.