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Hepatic hemangioma: findings with two-phase CT
K Hanafusa1, I Ohashi, Y Himeno
1Department of Radiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Radiology
|August 1, 1995
Summary
Two-phase dynamic incremental computed tomography (CT) reveals atypical hemangiomas, including low-attenuation and isoattenuation types. Early parenchymal enhancement in CT scans is strongly linked to arterioportal shunts.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hemangiomas are common benign liver tumors.
- Characterizing hemangioma appearance on imaging is crucial for diagnosis.
- Differentiating atypical hemangiomas from other neoplasms can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize hemangioma appearance using two-phase dynamic incremental computed tomography (CT).
- To determine the cause of contrast material enhancement in adjacent parenchyma during early CT phases.
Main Methods:
- Review of contrast-enhanced CT images from 51 hemangiomas in 20 patients.
- Classification of hemangioma enhancement patterns in two CT series.
- Evaluation of correlations between arterioportal shunts and early parenchymal enhancement in 45 hemangiomas.
Main Results:
- Thirty-two hemangiomas showed progressive enhancement.
- Four hemangiomas had low attenuation, and eight had homogeneous high attenuation in both CT series.
- Early parenchymal enhancement correlated significantly with the presence of arterioportal shunts.
Conclusions:
- Atypical hemangiomas (low-attenuation or changing from homogeneous high to isoattenuation) are difficult to distinguish from other liver neoplasms.
- Associated arterioportal shunts are the primary cause of early parenchymal enhancement observed in CT.