Computed tomography of hyper-attenuated liver: Pictorial essay

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Hepatology
• Pathology

Background:

• A hyper-attenuated liver on pre-contrast CT is an uncommon finding.
• It can pose diagnostic challenges without clear clinical history.
• Over 12 conditions cause radiopaque element deposition in the liver.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the CT appearance of hyper-attenuated liver.
• To discuss the etiology of diffuse hepatic hyper-attenuation.
• To correlate imaging findings with underlying pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of abdominal CT scans showing hyper-attenuated liver.
• Correlation with clinical history and pathological diagnoses.
• Categorization of causes into iatrogenic and genetic.

Main Results:

• Identified 12 distinct pathological conditions causing liver hyper-attenuation.
• Common causes include drug-induced conditions and genetic disorders (e.g., thalassemia, Wilson's disease, hemochromatosis).
• CT findings demonstrate diffuse or multi-lobar hyperdensity.

Conclusions:

• Hyper-attenuated liver on CT has diverse etiologies.
• Radiopaque deposition underlies this imaging finding.
• Recognition of CT patterns aids in diagnosing underlying conditions.