CT and MRI findings of cirrhosis-related benign nodules with ischaemia or infarction after variceal bleeding

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.