title: The ins and outs of liver imaging.
abstract: Different imaging modalities including ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and MR imaging may be used in the liver depending on the clinical situation. The ability of dedicated contrast-enhanced liver MR imaging or CT to definitively characterize lesions as benign is crucial in avoiding unnecessary biopsy. Liver imaging surveillance in patients with cirrhosis may allow for detection of hepatocellular carcinoma at an earlier stage, and therefore may improve outcome. This article reviews the different imaging modalities used to evaluate the liver and focal benign and malignant hepatic lesions, and the basic surveillance strategy for patients at increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, VA Western New York Healthcare System, 3495 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cogley
authors.affiliation: Body Imaging Section, Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: fmiller@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Cholangiocarcinoma; Elastography; Focal nodular hyperplasia; Hemangioma; Hepatic adenoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Imaging; Liver