Differentiating focal eosinophilic necrosis of the liver from hepatic metastases using unenhanced and portal venous phase computed tomographic imagings: results of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of computed tomographic (CT) predictors on portal venous phase images and a new CT predictor on unenhanced images in differentiating focal eosinophilic necrosis (FEN) from hepatic metastases.


METHODS
Computed tomographic findings were analyzed in 20 patients with FEN (n = 84) and 23 patients with hepatic metastases (n = 81). Computed tomographic features were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses to determine significant findings.


RESULTS
An irregular shape, a subtle low attenuation, a fuzzy margin, and absences of a contour bulging and a rimlike enhancement on the portal venous phase images and absence of a discernable low attenuation on the unenhanced images were significant variables favoring FEN in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, no discernable low attenuation on the unenhanced images and an irregular shape and a subtle low attenuation on the portal venous phase images were the variables independently favoring FEN.


CONCLUSIONS
Not only portal phase images but also unenhanced images can be helpful to differentiate FEN from hepatic metastases.
Choi
Joon-Il
JI
Department of Radiology, Seoul National, University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Jeong Min
JM
Kim
Se Hyung
SH
Lee
Jae Young
JY
Lee
Min Woo
MW
Han
Chang Jin
CJ
Han
Joon Koo
JK
Choi
Byung Ihn
BI
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009336:Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed