Diagnosis of coexistent hepatic tumors of different kinds: a challenge from CT and MR imaging

Three cases of multiple, different liver tumors in the same patient were examined with CT and MR imaging. Two patients with coexistent hepatocellular carcinoma and cavernous hemangioma were correctly diagnosed by the following characteristic findings on dynamic CT and/or MR images; spreading and markedly prolonged enhancement in cavernous hemangioma, and the presence of capsule and/or transient diffuse enhancement in hepatocellular carcinoma. The third case of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma showed typical findings of hepatocellular carcinoma in one tumor and unusual complex enhancement in the other. CT and MR imaging may enable correct diagnosis to be made even in patients with multiple liver tumors of different kinds.