title: Imaging findings of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia in men and women: are they really different?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to compare the imaging findings of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in men and women, as seen on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two radiologists reviewed 195 imaging studies (17 MDCT, 81 MRI and 97 CEUS examinations) pertaining to 111 FNHs (mean size 3 cm) in 91 patients (mean age 39 years). For each lesion, the readers assessed size, location, echogenicity, attenuation, or signal intensity in comparison with adjacent liver parenchyma on both unenhanced and postcontrast images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-nine FNHs (mean size 3.1 cm) were observed in 73 women (mean age 37.9 years) and 22 FNHs (mean size 2.7 cm) in 18 men (mean age 41.2 years). No statistically significant differences were found between men and women in terms of age, FNH lesions per patient (1.22 and 1.21, respectively), size, baseline and enhancement pattern on MRI, CEUS and MDCT (p < 0.05). A central scar in FNHs was depicted in 4/18 (22.2%) men and 16/63 (25.4%) women on MRI (p < 0.05), and in 1/2 (50%) men and 7/15 (46.7%) women on MDCT (p < 0.05), whereas a spoke-wheel pattern, central scar, and/or feeding vessel were seen in 5/17 (29.4%) men and 22/80 (27.5%) women on CEUS (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results did not show any differences in imaging features, age of occurrence and size of FNH between men and women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 129, 90127, Palermo, Italy, tv_bartolotta@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tommaso Vincenzo
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Bartolotta
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taibbi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brancatelli
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matranga
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tumbarello
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midiri
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagalla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010743:Phospholipids; D012737:Sex Factors; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; C064572:gadobenic acid; C057937:iomeprol; D008536:Meglumine; D007479:Iopamidol; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride