Transient hepatic attenuation differences in neonates.
BACKGROUND
A transient hepatic attenuation difference (THAD) is a hepatic perfusion anomaly seen on contrast-enhanced CT scans caused by an alteration in the dual blood supply of the liver. Although THADs have been described in adolescents and adults, they have not previously been described in neonates.


OBJECTIVE
We describe the appearance and evaluate the frequency of THADs in neonates < or =1 month of age compared to other infants younger than 2 years.


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed looking at all CT angiograms from 2000 to 2007 in infants <2 years of age. The incidence of THADs was compared among four age groups. Significance was determined using a logistic regression model.


RESULTS
The study included 128 CT angiograms. A THAD was seen in 9/26 infants <1 month of age, in 3/50 infants 1 to 6 months of age, in 1/23 infants 6 months to 1 year of age, and in 1/29 infants 1 to 2 years of age. A THAD was found significantly more frequently in infants <1 month of age than in the older age groups (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
THADs are benign entities that can be seen normally in the neonatal age group. When the characteristic appearance is seen on CT, no further imaging is needed.
Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave. ML 5031, Cincinnati, OH 45241, USA. Alexander.Towbin@cchmc.org
Alexander J
AJ
Towbin
Jun
J
Ying
Robert
R
Fleck
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*