Multiple anechoic hepatic nodules in a patient with malignant lymphoma: report of a case with an emphasis on B-mode sonograms.
We present a case of hepatic malignant lymphoma (ML) in which the hepatic ML nodules were imaged as round anechoic nodules with posterior echo enhancement, mimicking hepatic cysts on B-mode ultrasonography (US). However, the boundary echo between the nodules and the surrounding hepatic tissue seemed to be less distinct than that of a hepatic cyst. Contrast-enhanced US showed the nodules to be hypervascular, which ruled out the possibility of hepatic cysts. Our observation stresses the importance of boundary echo for the diagnosis of hepatic ML on B-mode US. We also offer a possible explanation for this phenomenon.
Department of Medical Science Laboratory, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, 1-1-1 Nishibukuro, Iijima, Akita, 011-0948, Japan. hakoooyama@yahoo.co.jp.
Yoko
Y
Ohyama
Department of Medical Science Laboratory, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, 1-1-1 Nishibukuro, Iijima, Akita, 011-0948, Japan.
Junko
J
Konno
Department of Medical Science Laboratory, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, 1-1-1 Nishibukuro, Iijima, Akita, 011-0948, Japan.
Chioko
C
Yoshida
Department of Medical Science Laboratory, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, 1-1-1 Nishibukuro, Iijima, Akita, 011-0948, Japan.
Naoko
N
Kudoh
Department of Medical Science Laboratory, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, 1-1-1 Nishibukuro, Iijima, Akita, 011-0948, Japan.
Toshiki
T
Sasaki
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, Akita, Japan.
Takao
T
Hoshino
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita Kumiai General Hospital, Akita, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Watanabe
Center of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Red Cross Hospital, Akita, Japan.
Hideaki
H
Ishida
Center of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Red Cross Hospital, Akita, Japan.
Kayoko
K
Furukawa
Center of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Red Cross Hospital, Akita, Japan.
Takako
T
Watanabe
contrast-enhanced ultrasound; cyst; liver; lymphoma; ultrasound