OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of applying MultiVane to liver T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) compared with conventional T2WIs with emphasis on detection of focal liver lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight patients (43 men and 35 women) with 86 hepatic lesions and 20 pancreatico-biliary diseases underwent MRI including T2WIs acquired using breath-hold (BH), respiratory-triggered (RT), and MultiVane technique at 3T. Two reviewers evaluated each T2WI with respect to artefacts, organ sharpness, and conspicuity of intrahepatic vessels, hilar duct, and main lesion using five-point scales, and made pairwise comparisons between T2WI sequences for these categories. Diagnostic accuracy (Az) and sensitivity for hepatic lesion detection were evaluated using alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: MultiVane T2WI was significantly better than BH-T2WI or RT-T2WI for organ sharpness and conspicuity of intrahepatic vessels and main lesion in both separate reviews and pairwise comparisons (p < 0.001). With regard to motion artefacts, MultiVane T2WI or BH-T2WI was better than RT-T2WI (p < 0.001). Conspicuity of hilar duct was better with BH-T2WI than with MultiVane T2WI (p = 0.030) or RT-T2WI (p < 0.001). For detection of 86 hepatic lesions, sensitivity (mean, 97.7%) of MultiVane T2WI was significantly higher than that of BH-T2WI (mean, 89.5%) (p = 0.008) or RT-T2WI (mean, 84.9%) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Applying the MultiVane technique to T2WI of the liver is a promising approach to improving image quality that results in increased detection of focal liver lesions compared with conventional T2WI.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Artifacts ; Biliary Tract Diseases/diagnosis/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/radiography ; Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Diseases/diagnosis/radiography ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

CT colonography is a promising technique that provides both multiplanar and endoluminal perspective of the air-filled, distended, cleaned colon. "Virtual colonoscopy" refers to computer-simulated 3D endoscopic visualization of the colonic mucosal surface. Unlike barium enema and conventional colonoscopy, CT colonography can give cross- sectional and endoluminal images of the colon and enables to image extracolic abnormality. CT colonography offers potential advantages over colonoscopy in that it causes little discomfort to the patient, and does not need sedation. It is more accurate in spatial location of lesions and creates no complication. To date, most studies assessing CT colonography have focused in technical development, less aggressive bowel preparation, and computer-aided diagnosis of polyp detection. In the future, CT colonography would be a diagnostic and screening tool for the colorectal polyp and cancer.
Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver Diseases/diagnosis/*radiography ; Lung Volume Measurements ; Pulmonary Veins/radiography ; Tomography, Spiral Computed/instrumentation/*methods

Hepatic lymphangioma is a rare benign neoplasm. It usually occurs as a part of systemic lymphangiomatosis. Isolated hepatic lymphangioma is extremely rare. A 58-year-old woman with weight loss was referred for the evaluation of chronic renal insufficiency and hepatic mass. Abdominal computed tomography showed 3 cm sized multilobulated cystic lesion with calcification and thick septal enhancing focus in the segment V of the liver. On abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, the masses exhibited low signal intensity on the T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on the T2-weighted images. Malignant tumor could not be ruled out, and therefore, the patient underwent right anterior segmentectomy of the liver. Gross pathology reveraled a 3.0x2.2x1.5 cm mass with multichamber cyst, which was filled with mucoid material. Histologically the mass was composed of irregularly shaped vascular channels filled acellular homogeneous lymph fluids. The final diagnosis was hepatic isolated cavernous lymphangioma. Herein, we report a case of isolated hepatic lymphangioma and also review the existing literature.
Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Lymphangioma/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Liver/*pathology/radiography ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We present two cases of solitary necrotic nodules of the liver which on radiologic images mimicked hepatic metastasis. Solitary necrotic nodule of the liver is a rare but benign entity which histopathologically consists of an outer fibrotic cap-sule with inflammatory cells and a central core of amorphous necrotic material. The lesion was seen on contrast-enhanced CT as an ovoid-shaped hypoattenu-ating nodule; on CT during hepatic arteriography as enhancing nodule; on intra-operative US as a target-appearing hypoechoic nodule; on T2WI as a hyperinten-sity nodule, and on dynamic MR as a subtle peripheral enhancing nodule. Although the radiologic features are not specific, solitary necrotic nodule of the liver should be included in the differential diagnosis of hepatic metastasis.
Aged ; Case Report ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human ; Liver/*pathology ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography ; Liver Neoplasms/*secondary ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Age ; Necrosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammatory pseudotumor rarely occurs in the liver. However, it is important to discriminate it from malignant hepatic tumor in order to avoid unnecessary surgery. We aimed to elucidate the characteristic features of this disease entity by analyzing our experiences and by reviewing the related literatures. METHODS: Fifteen patients were enrolled during a recent three-year period. The patients were pathologically diagnosed with inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver, and their clinical and imaging findings were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Our study population was composed of ten men and five women, and their mean age was 60.3+/-9.2 years. Their initial diagnoses were inflammatory pseudotumor (n=8), malignant tumors (n=3) and abscess (n=4). Twelve of 15 patients were associated with biliary diseases such as biliary stone, gallbladder cancer, empyema or cholangiocarcinoma. The most common symptom was abdominal pain. The most common CT and MR findings could be summarized as a delayed hyperattenuating mass with an internal hypoattenuating component. The tumors were solitary in 13 patients and multiple in two patients. The lesions regressed spontaneously in seven patients. Four patients were treated by antibiotics and 3 patients by surgical resection. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver seems to have relatively common clinical and imaging features, as described above. However, these features are not disease-specific; thus, preoperative histologic confirmation is necessary to avoid unnecessary surgery.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell/*diagnosis/radiography ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/*diagnosis/radiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Cells ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Adenoma, Bile Duct/pathology/*radiography ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiomyolipoma/pathology/*radiography ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/radiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA/*chemistry ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/pathology/*radiography ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology/*radiography ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pseudolymphoma/pathology/*radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Hepatic peribiliary cysts (HPCs) are characterized by cystic dilatations of the peribiliary glands located throughout the branches of the biliary systems. Specifically, they are mainly located along the hepatic hilum and major portal tracts. The natural history and prognosis of HPCs are uncertain. In fact, almost all HPCs have been discovered incidentally during radiological examination or autopsy, and they are considered to be clinically harmless. Recently, several cases of HPCs associated with obstructive jaundice or liver failure were reported in patients with pre-existing liver disease in several studies. However, until now there have been no reports of such a case in Korea. Herein, we report a case of HPCs that show a disease course with a poor prognosis. These HPCs developed in a 47-year-old man with progressive alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
Bile Duct Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Cysts/*complications/radiography ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive/etiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/complications/*diagnosis/radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in mid- and long-term complication monitoring after liver transplantation.

METHODSTwenty-one recipients receiving orthotropic liver transplantation between Feb 2003 and May 2005 were enrolled in this study. FLASH T(1)-weighted, T(2)-weighted fast spin echo, T(2)-weighted fat suppression, dynamic gadolinium-enhanced, MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and three-dimensional dynamic gadolinium-enhanced FISP MRA images were obtained.

RESULTSOf the 21 patients, bile duct complications were detected in all cases and liver arterial and venous complications in 8 cases. Liver cancer relapse occurred in 5 cases and allograft failure in 4.

CONCLUSIONMR imaging allows effective monitoring of mid- and long-term complications of liver transplantation, which provides valuable clues for their clinical treatment.

Adult ; Arterial Occlusive Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Bile Duct Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Hepatic Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity