title: CT and MR imaging characteristics of infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to analyze computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of infantile hepatic hemangioendotheliomas before and after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT and MR examinations of seven infants with biopsy proven hepatic hemangioendotheliomas were retrospectively analyzed. The distribution, number, size, imaging appearance, enhancement pattern and post-treatment changes of the tumors were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 153 hepatic hemangioendotheliomas were detected on CT (111) and MR (42) imaging. In six infants, 109/111 (98.2%) tumors were hypodense and 2/111 (1.8%) lesions contained calcification on unenhanced CT. On MR imaging, all 42 lesions in one infant were heterogeneously T1-hypointense and T2-hyperintense compared to the normal liver parenchyma. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI showed peripheral rim (51.6%), uniform (48.4%), fibrillary (33.3%), and nodular (28.8%) contrast enhancement in the hepatic arterial phase. Homogeneous (100%), rim (98.2%) and mixed enhancement patterns were noted in tumors <1.0cm, >2.0cm and 1.0-2.0cm in diameter respectively in the hepatic arterial phase. In three patients who underwent steroid therapy, follow-up CT examination demonstrated tumor size reduction and increased intra-tumoral calcification in two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infantile hepatic hemangioendotheliomas show some typical imaging features and size-dependent pattern of contrast enhancement on CT and MR imaging, which allow accurate imaging diagnosis and post-treatment evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen Univeristy, 58th, The Second Zhongshan Road, Guangzhou, China. fst1977@163.com
authors.forename: Shi-Ting
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: A S C
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: Can-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Huan-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Quan-Fei
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Zi-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006390:Hemangioendothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*