Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI findings of atypical hepatic Echinococcus alveolaris infestation.
Diagnosis of liver infestation by Echinococcus alveolaris (EA) is based on serological and radiological findings. In this report, we present a 15-year-old girl with atypical hepatic EA infestation showing central punctate calcifications and contrast enhancement on the portal and late phases of CT and MRI. CT showed a hypodense mass involving more than half of the liver with prominent central calcifications. MRI revealed hypointense signal of the infiltrative mass on both T1- and T2-weighted images. Contrast enhancement is a unique finding in hepatic EA infestation that may cause difficulties with diagnosis. MRI may provide invaluable information in the diagnosis of EA infestation of the liver, either by disclosing the infiltrative pattern of infestation without significant effect to vascular structures, or by the signal characteristics.
Etlik
Omer
O
Department of Radiology, Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, 65200, Turkey. omeretlik@hotmail.com
Bay
Ali
A
Arslan
Halil
H
Harman
Mustafa
M
Kösem
Mustafa
M
Temizöz
Osman
O
Dogan
Ekrem
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media