title: Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver: the role of hepatobiliary phase imaging for the preoperative diagnosis and qualification of patients for liver transplantation -- preliminary experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine if the appearance of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) on state-of-the-art MRI including hepatocyte phase after administration of hepatobiliary contrast agent can facilitate preoperative diagnosis and identification of potential candidates for liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 6 patients with pathologically confirmed HEHE. Analysis included signal characteristics of 55 tumor nodules (maximum of 10 lesions per patient) on T2-weighted images, dynamic contrast-enhanced, 5-minute delayed, and hepatobiliary phase images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common feature of HEHE, observed in 84% of lesions, was progressive contrast-enhancement, followed by subcapsular location (66%), confluent appearance (60%) and hyper- or isointensity on hepatobiliary phase images (53%). In 5 of 6 patients, capsular retraction was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The appearance of HEHE on hepatobiliary phase images was variable, but examined tumors often demonstrated hyper- or isointensity, most probably due to prolonged retention of contrast material. These features, along with typical morphology (subcapsular, confluent nodules, with progressive enhancement and capsular retraction), may contribute to correct diagnosis and recognition of potential candidates for liver transplantation.
authors: 2nd Department of Clinical Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. andrzej.cieszanowski@wum.edu.pl
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Cieszanowski
authors: Ryszard
authors: R
authors: Pacho
authors: Agnieszka
authors: A
authors: Anysz-Grodzicka
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Gornicka
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Remiszewski
authors: Edyta
authors: E
authors: Maj
authors: Ireneusz P
authors: IP
authors: Grudzinski
authors: Krzysztof
authors: K
authors: Zieniewicz
authors: Urszula
authors: U
authors: Oldakowska-Jedynak
authors: Olgierd
authors: O
authors: Rowinski
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Krawczyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018323:Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged