title: Focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesions in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein: prevalence, MR findings and natural history.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively investigate the prevalence, MR findings, natural history, and association with other hepatic lesions of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)-like lesions in a cohort of consecutive patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective IRB-approved study comprised 58 patients (32 men, 26 women; average age, 50 years) with CTPV who underwent liver MR imaging between 2000 and 2008. MR images were assessed by two radiologists in consensus for the presence of (a) FNH-like lesions and other liver lesions, and (b) other imaging findings. Patients were assigned to a stable or progressive clinical course based on lesion characteristics at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve of 58 patients (21%) had 38 FNH-like lesions (average size, 1.3 cm). Common findings of FNH-like lesions were isointensity on T2-weighted images (82%), intense and homogeneous enhancement during the arterial phase, and lack of washout during the hepatic venous and interstitial phases (100%). FNH-like lesions were found with other benign liver lesions (1 hemangioma, 1 adenoma) in two patients. Three (25%) patients with FNH-like lesions showed a progressive clinical course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNH-like lesions are commonly detected in patients with CTPV. Most lesions demonstrate benign imaging findings and stable clinical course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA, danielemarin2@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galluzzo
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plessier
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brancatelli
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valla
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vilgrain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome