CT and MRI findings of cirrhosis-related benign nodules with ischaemia or infarction after variceal bleeding
Received 10 February 2010; received in revised form 10 May 2010; accepted 24 May 2010. published online 21 July 2010.
Aim
To present computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of cirrhosis-related benign nodules with ischaemia or infarction.
Materials and methods
Sixteen consecutive patients (14 men and two women) who had been diagnosed with cirrhosis-related benign nodules with ischaemia or infarction after variceal bleeding based on the results of dynamic CT (n=15) and MRI (n=8) were included in this study. Five patients had histopathological confirmation via liver transplantation (n=2) and percutaneous biopsy (n=3). Images were analyzed for the enhancement pattern, signal intensities, location, and configuration of the lesions.
Results
Most of the lesions were depicted as multifocal discrete or clustered nodules with some irregular patchy areas (size range 3–28mm). They were predominantly found in subcapsular area or caudate lobe. Most nodular lesions were seen as hypoattenuating (hypointense) nodules with rim enhancement during dynamic CT or MRI. On T2-weighted images, nodular lesions were predominantly seen as target appearing hyperintense nodules. On follow-up images (range 2–24 months), most of the lesions disappeared or decreased in size.
Conclusion
CT and MRI can be used to demonstrate characteristic findings of cirrhosis-related benign nodules with ischaemia or infarction. Rapid resolution of the nodules at follow-up imaging can also be helpful for diagnosing these lesions.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University Hospital and Medical School, Jeon Ju, South Korea
Guarantor and correspondent: Y.K. Kim, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chonbuk National University Hospital and Medical School, Keum Am Dong, Jeon Ju, South Korea. Tel.: +82 63 250 2314; fax: +82 63 272 0481.
a Current address: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sunkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
ABSTRACT