Multicystic biliary hamartoma: imaging findings in four cases.
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.
Ryu
Yasuji
Y
Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan. ryu@rad.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Matsui
Osamu
O
Zen
Yoh
Y
Ueda
Kazuhiko
K
Abo
Hitoshi
H
Nakanuma
Yasuni
Y
Gabata
Toshifumi
T
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