title: [Modern diagnostics of cystic liver lesions and hemangiomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cystic liver lesions incorporate a broad heterogeneous group of mostly benign but also malignant abnormalities. The radiological aim is the non-invasive diagnosis with the use of different imaging modalities to determine the type of lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The common generally asymptomatic incidental findings of cystic lesions on ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) must be classified on the basis of specific imaging features. Such a differentiation is essential because the clinical consequences and the appropriate therapy can vary depending on the underlying pathology. Due to the morphological overlap of many cystic lesions, conventional radiological methods are often insufficient.
  
  
  METHODS
  The huge advances in cross-sectional imaging (multidetector CT, MRI with special sequences and different contrast agents and MR cholangiopancreatography) in combination with the clinical history usually enable a non-invasive diagnosis. Pathognomonic morphological and hemodynamic lesion features, as well as a knowledge of the pathomechanisms, help to differentiate this broad spectrum of entities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this article the different entities of cystic liver lesions, together with the appropriate diagnostic method for detection and distinction and including their strengths and limitations, are demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A well-founded knowledge about the development of various cystic liver lesions and the suitable choice of imaging method facilitate a non-invasive diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Österreich, sarah.poetter-lang@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pötter-Lang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brancatelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bastati-Huber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ba-Ssalamah
mesh_terms: D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*