[Limitations of computed tomographic differential diagnosis of focal liver changes]

Computed tomography of the liver is essential when there are discrepancies between ultrasonography, physical examination and laboratory findings. However, sometimes the referring clinicians overestimate the true accuracy of CT. Some of its major pitfalls include the limited spatial resolution and consequent false-negative results in the case of small focal lesions; further disadvantages are the inadequate contrast between a lesion and surrounding liver parenchyma, and limited specificity even in perfusion studies. When typical patterns in contrast and density of a cyst, hemangioma and focal nodular hyperplasia are present an accurate diagnosis is achieved. In atypical cases and in all other liver lesions further investigations will be necessary.