Effects of niacin therapy that simulate neoplasia: hepatic steatosis with concurrent hepatic dysfunction.
Niacin, a widely used antihyperlipidemic agent, can produce hepatic steatosis and clinical hepatic abnormalities that together simulate the presentation of hepatobiliary neoplasia. We describe a patient initially suspected of having hepatobiliary neoplasia for whom imaging studies played a pivotal role in reaching the correct diagnosis of niacin-induced hepatotoxicity. Radiologists should become knowledgeable of these niacin-related effects, add niacin effects to the differential diagnosis of hepatic steatosis, and understand the value of correlative imaging in distinguishing these effects from hepatobiliary neoplasia.
Kristensen
T
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Department of Radiology, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94304, USA.
Olcott
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EW
D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D009525:Niacin