[Imaging of hepatic angiosarcoma]

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary imaging
• Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Primary hepatic angiosarcoma (PHA) is an exceptionally rare liver malignancy.
• PHA shares imaging features with atypical hemangioma (HA), complicating diagnosis.
• Accurate differentiation is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

• A case report details a 47-year-old male diagnosed with PHA.
• Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was utilized for imaging.
• Conventional CT, MRI, and PET/CT scans were also performed.

Findings:

• CEUS demonstrated efficacy in distinguishing PHA from HA.
• CT findings for PHA were variable.
• MRI presented potential mimicry with HA, arteriovenous malformations, and cystic metastases.
• PET/CT revealed elevated fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the left liver lobe, confirming the diagnosis.

Implications:

• CEUS serves as a valuable tool for differentiating PHA from HA.
• Multimodality imaging, including PET/CT, is essential for verifying PHA diagnosis.
• Early and accurate diagnosis of rare liver tumors like PHA improves patient outcomes.