title: Lesions of biliary hamartoms can be diagnosed by ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is to compare the value of ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of biliary hamartomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2003 to 2013, 15 cases of liver biopsies were found to have biliary hamartomas, including 3 cases excluded from this study. The remaining 12 patients were 7 women and 5 men aged from 28 to 66 years (mean age, 53 years). Ultrasonography examinations were performed by two different scanners using 3.5- to 5.0-MHz convex array transducers. Eight patients were examined by plain and contrast CT including 2 cases with Sensation Cardiac 64 and 6 cases with Somatom definition dual source CT. MRI was performed by a 3 T system using an eight-channel phased-array torso coil. Using pathology slides, lesions were classified into class 1 (predominantly solid), class 2 (intermediate, mixed solid and cystic), and class 3 (predominantly cystic).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with biliary hamartomas have distributed lesions. Ultrasonography can be used to diagnose biliary hamartomas, with occasional mistakes. CT is effective in the diagnosis of biliary hamartomas. MRI is capable of diagnosing biliary hamartomas. Histopathological examination provides a direct means to classify the degrees of lesions caused by biliary hamartomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biliary hamartomas showed characteristic features on imaging findings by ultrasonography, CT, and MRI. Although abdominal ultrasonography could detect suspected biliary hamartomas, the best choice for further diagnosis is MRI examination instead of CT. In addition, follow-up ultrasonography examinations are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Department of Shandong Provincial Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shaoling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Department of Shandong Provincial Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Department of The Fifth Hospital of Jinan City, Shandong University Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jincai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Ultrasound Department of Shandong Provincial Medical Imaging Research Institute, Shandong University Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jichang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department of Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University Jinan City, Shandong Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Biliary hamartoms; computed tomography; magnetic resonance imaging; ultrasonography