Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Nonhepatocellular Malignancies in Chronic Liver Disease

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy associated with chronic liver disease. Nonhepatocellular malignancies may also arise in the setting of chronic liver disease. The imaging diagnosis of non-HCC malignancies may be challenging. Non-HCC malignancies in patients with chronic liver disease most commonly include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma, and less commonly hepatic lymphomas and metastases. On MR imaging, non-HCC malignancies often demonstrate a targetoid appearance, manifesting as rim arterial phase hyperenhancement, peripheral washout, central delayed enhancement, and peripheral restricted diffusion. When applying the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System algorithm, observations with targetoid appearance are categorized as LR-M.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; Liver imaging reporting and data system; Magnetic resonance imaging; Metastasis.