title: Computed tomographic appearance of colorectal hepatic metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article reviews the various computed tomography (CT) appearances of hepatic metastases from colorectal primaries and assesses the frequency of occurrence of the various patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of the CT appearances of histologically proven colorectal hepatic metastases in a group of 52 patients who had undergone surgical hepatic resection between January 1994 and December 2001. A total of 74 hepatic metastatic lesions were reviewed. All lesions were examined in the portal venous phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A discernible rim was seen in 54 lesions (73%). Thick rim was present in 36 lesions (48.6%) and thin rim in 18 lesions (24.3%). Enhancement of the rim was present in 62 cases (83.8%). Increased central attenuation was seen in 38 lesions (51.4%). Of these, the centre was heterogeneous in 76.3% and scar-like in 23.7%. A non-enhancing rim was seen in 12 lesions (16.2%) which appeared as lesions with "bevelled edge". Thick enhancing rim with non-enhancing centre was the most common combination in 15 lesions (20.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An enhancing rim could be seen in 83.8% of lesions. Increased central attenuation was present in 51.4% of the lesions. Familiarity with the various CT appearances may facilitate identification and diagnosis of colorectal liver metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Thng
authors.forename: C S C
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.forename: A G S
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Poddar
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: P K H
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: A Y F
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: L L P J
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ooi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data