Solid liver masses: approach to management from the standpoint of a radiologist.

Abstract

Solid liver masses are being discovered at increasing rates due to the widespread use of medical imaging. Ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging play important and often complementary roles in detecting and diagnosing solid liver masses. Morphologic and enhancement characteristics as well as clinical history frequently allow a confident imaging diagnosis. Still, diagnosing liver masses with imaging alone remains a challenge, and masses that do not meet specific diagnostic criteria may require biopsy. Newly developed standardized terminology and imaging criteria have facilitated the imaging diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis. Hepatobiliary-secreted MRI contrast agents have improved the ability to diagnose focal nodular hyperplasia and may also improve the detection and imaging diagnosis of HCC. These exciting new contrast agents are the subject of active investigation.

• Authors: Robert Garrett
• Journal: Current gastroenterology reports (Curr Gastroenterol Rep) Vol. 15 Issue 12 Pg. 359 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 1534-312X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24243519 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Contrast Media

Topics

• Bile Duct Neoplasms (diagnosis)
• Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (diagnosis)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (diagnosis)
• Contrast Media
• Focal Nodular Hyperplasia (diagnosis)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (diagnosis)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (methods)