Angiographic and computed tomographic appearance of secondary carcinoid of the liver

Liver angiograms of 27 patients with hepatic carcinoid metastases were analyzed for distribution, size, degree of vascularity, and patterns of tumor staining. Computed tomography (CT) scans were evaluated before and after bolus contrast administration in 13 of the cases. The diagnostic capability of the two procedures was compared. Angiography detected metastases, some less than 1 cm in size in all 13 patients; in 5 of 13 cases (38.5%) CT did not detect any hepatic metastases. In the eight patients in whom CT demonstrated metastases, the patterns of lesions and usefulness of contrast varied. Angiography is essential for evaluation of patients with suspected carcinoid metastases to the liver.