Nonneoplastic liver disease: evaluation with CT and MR imaging

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Hepatology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Nontumorous hepatic diseases significantly impact liver function.
• Computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are essential diagnostic tools for these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the CT and MR imaging features of various nontumorous hepatic diseases.
• To emphasize the importance of recognizing these imaging characteristics for accurate diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of CT and MR imaging findings in infectious liver disease, cholangitis, portal vein thrombosis, hepatic infarcts, cirrhosis, radiation-induced hepatitis, and hemochromatosis.
• Comparison of imaging characteristics across different modalities (CT, MR).

Main Results:

• Infectious diseases show low attenuation on CT and high T2 signal on MR.
• Cholangitis presents with ductal dilatation on both CT and MR.
• Portal vein thrombosis appears as low attenuation on CT and hyperintense on MR.
• Hepatic infarcts are peripheral, wedge-shaped areas of decreased attenuation on CT.
• Cirrhosis complications and radiation hepatitis have distinct CT and MR features.
• Hemochromatosis shows increased CT attenuation and decreased MR signal intensity.

Conclusions:

• Advanced imaging techniques like spiral CT and fast MR imaging improve detection and characterization of liver diseases.
• Understanding the spectrum of CT and MR imaging findings in nonneoplastic liver conditions is vital for accurate diagnosis.