Liver masses with central or eccentric scar

Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2009 Oct;30(5):418-25. doi: 10.1053/j.sult.2009.07.004.

Abstract

Central or eccentric scar has been described in (most frequently) focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), large hemangioma, and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, and moreover, a central scar may be rarely seen in conventional nonfibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, (peripheral type) cholangiocarcinoma, and some hepatic metastases. Among the liver tumors with central or eccentric scar, differentiating FNH from other solid hepatic tumors is important because FNH usually requires no treatment. Multiphasic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful for the differential diagnosis of liver tumors with central or eccentric scar. Liver-specific magnetic resonance contrast media will improve the differentiation between FNH and other solid hepatic tumors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cicatrix / diagnosis*
  • Cicatrix / diagnostic imaging
  • Cicatrix / pathology
  • Contrast Media
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods

Substances

  • Contrast Media