Radionuclide angiography in two cases of hepatic actinomycosis

Primary hepatic actinomycosis is rare, and there have been few reports concerning its nuclear imaging findings. Two cases of actinomycosis, in which hypervascular hepatic masses were observed in the arterial phase of radionuclide angiography are reported. To the authors' knowledge, this finding has not been reported in the literature. In one of the two cases, intense Ga-67 uptake also was noted. Although the preoperative diagnosis based on the findings of nuclear imaging (liver scan, liver flow study, Ga-67 scan), ultrasound, CT, and angiography was hepatoma, hepatic masses in our cases proved to be hepatic actinomycosis. Because hepatic actinomycosis is rare, this disease is neglected often in the differential diagnosis of hepatic mass lesions. It should be included in the gamut of hypervascular hepatic mass lesions.