title: Is capsular retraction a specific CT sign of malignant liver tumor?
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess if a liver capsular retraction is a specific CT sign in malignant hepatic tumors. The authors reviewed retrospectively 320 hepatic CT scans obtained in 300 patients during a 3-year period. These patients presented with benign (n = 64) or malignant (n = 236) hepatic tumors. In 7 patients we found retraction of the capsule surrounding the tumor. All these tumors were histologically proven as malignant lesions: 4 metastases (none being chemically treated), 2 peripheral cholangiocarcinomas, and 1 epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. The prevalence of this sign was 2.18% (7 of 320) in this series. This capsular retraction pattern has never been found in hepato-cellular carcinomas (no fibrolamellar in this series) and benign lesions. Liver capsular retraction is an uncommon but specific (100%) sign in malignant hepatic tumors; however, a larger and prospective series is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, CHU Purpan, Place du Docteur Baylac, F-31059 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sans
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fajadet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galy-Fourcade
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trocart
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jarlaud
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chiavassa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giron
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Railhac
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed