title: Contribution of CT to characterization of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver.
abstract: Our personal series of 20 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver is presented. All lesions were studied with computed tomography (CT), 16 of which with surgical control. Retrospective evaluation of the CT features of the identified FNH, along with those of five hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) and 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), allowed the definition of specific patterns leading to a correct characterization of FNH in 78% of cases. This greatly reduced the diagnostic errors, with the sole exception of patients with fatty liver in whom nuclear medicine may eventually provide a correct characterization. Fine-needle biopsy is thus only necessary in the dubious cases. A precise diagnostic workup of FNH is necessary, since it may avoid the surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Procacci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fugazzola
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinquino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mangiante
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zonta
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Andreis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nicoli
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Pistolesi
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed