title: Multicystic biliary hamartoma: imaging findings in four cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multicystic biliary hamartoma is a rare hamartomatous nodule of the liver, which has recently been described as a new category of hepatic nodular cystic lesion. The purpose of this study is to report the imaging findings in four cases of multicystic biliary hamartoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  US, CT, and MRI manifestation of four multicystic hamartoma were evaluated and correlated to pathological findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The location of the lesion was near the liver surface. Localized multicystic areas with enhanced walls and septae were the common features of this disease. They had the so-called honeycomb-like appearance, and normal liver parenchyma often intermingled within the peripheral portion of the nodular lesion. Pathologically, these imaging features corresponded to multiple dilated hamartomatous bile ducts with fibrous cystic wall and/or septa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We should keep in mind this disease as one type of cystic liver disease and not confuse it with neoplasms such as cystadenoma of the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan. ryu@rad.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yasuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yoh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zen
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abo
authors.forename: Yasuni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakanuma
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gabata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011172:Portography / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods