Pericaval fat mimicking intracaval deposits on unenhanced and contrast-enhanced helical CT in patients with cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to determine whether there is a significant difference in radiographic depiction of pericaval fat mimicking intracaval deposits on CT scans in patients with cirrhosis versus those without cirrhosis.


METHODS
The incidence of radiographic pseudolesions depicted as an intracaval fat mass identified on CT scans in 62 patients with cirrhosis was compared with that in 81 patients without cirrhosis.


RESULTS
Pericaval fat depicted as an intracaval fat mass was identified more frequently in patients with cirrhosis (20/62, 32%) than in patients without cirrhosis (4/81, 5%), representing a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001). A total of 24 lesions were seen in 20 patients with cirrhosis. Lesions were identified at the confluence of the hepatic veins (n = 19), below the confluence (n = 4), and above the confluence (n = 1). Pseudolesions appeared round (n = 5), oval (n = 15), or linear (n = 4). Locations included medial (n = 15), posteromedial (n = 4), anteromedial (n = 1), and posterior (n = 4). The average length was 1.5 cm.


CONCLUSIONS
The cause of pseudolesions depicted as intracaval fat masses on CT is likely secondary to morphologic changes in the liver such as cirrhosis.
Baba
Y
Y
Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. yasutaka@m3.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Hokotate
H
H
Inoue
H
H
Nakajo
M
M
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media