Magnetic resonance imaging of liver lesions: exceptions and atypical lesions.
On state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging, most lesions can be detected and characterized with confidence according to well-known criteria. However, atypical characteristics in some common lesions and the incidental encounter with rare lesions may pose diagnostic difficulties. In this article, six challenging hepatic lesions will be discussed and evaluated on the most important magnetic resonance imaging sequences, with histological correlation when available. In addition, the background information concerning these lesions will be described based on the most recent available literature. By reading this article, the reader will be able to (1) categorize the lesion in solid and fluid-containing lesions, based on the T2 signal intensity; and (2) define the benign or malignant nature of the lesion, in relation to the signal intensity and dynamic enhancement pattern, despite the presence of atypical characteristics of some lesions.
van den Bos
Indra C
IC
Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. vandenbos.ic@gmail.com
Hussain
Shahid M
SM
de Man
Robert A
RA
Zondervan
Pieter E
PE
Ijzermans
Jan N M
JN
Preda
A
A
Krestin
Gabriel P
GP
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media