ObjectiveTo explore the clinical features and sum up the laws of the hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) in its diagnosis and treatment. MethodsFNH was an uncommon benign hepatic tumor that often posed diagnostic dilemmas. We analyzed retrospectively the clinical, imaging of ultrasound, imaging of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance images (MRI), and pathological materials of 21 patients with FNH proven by the pathological diagnosis during 5 years from April 1996 through April 2001 in two hospitals. ResultsThe diagnosis of FNH remained a challenge for clinicians and surgeons. Rate of correct diagnosis of FNH was low preoperatively (19.0%). The lesions of FNH were seen in males and females (m/f: 14/7). Only three female patients (3/7) had the history of taking oral contraceptive. Patients with FNH were largely young and middle age persons (81.0% under 50 years), discovered by accident (57.1%), without infection of the hepatitis B virus (95.2%) and with normal liver functions (100%) and serum AFP levels (100%). Color Doppler ultrasound showed blood vessels passing through the lesion (80.0%) and there was abundant in blood (66.7%). CT scan showed that the lesion had transient immediate enhancement in 60.0% of patients and had homogeneous signal in 60.0% after bolus injection. MR imaging demonstrated early vigorous enhancement (64.3%), homogenous signal (57.1%) and having central scar (35.7%) in the lesion. The demonstration of a central scar in the lesion was very helpful for the diagnosis of FNH. MRI was more helpful for the diagnosis of FNH using liver specific contrast agents: superparamagnetic iron oxide（SPIO）. All patients underwent focus resection (18 cases) or segmentectomy (2 cases), except one having no treatment. ConclusionFNH shows some typical clinical and imaging features. We could increase the rate of correct diagnosis by comprehensively analyzing the clinical and imaging materials. It is very important and necessary to determine a definite diagnosis of FNH, hepatic adenoma (HA) and primary liver cancer (PLC) preoperatively, because the HA and PLC must be surgically resected, FNH can only be followed up.
Objective To approach the enhancing patterns of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) under contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and improve the recognition on diagnosis for FNH by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Methods The clinical data of 12 patients with histologically proved FNHs having accepted contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination from May 2007 to February 2009 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were retroptectively analyzed, and related literatures were reviewed. Results All FNHs were rapidly enhanced in arterial phase and spoke-wheel-like sign was detected in 9/12 lesions. Slightly hyper-enhancement or iso-enhancement were showed in 11/12 lesions, while 1/12 lesions showed hypo-enhancement in late phase. Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can display the dynamic blood perfusion of FNH, especially spoke-wheel-like arterial flow in early arterial phase, which is of great value for the diagnosis of FNH.
Objective To investigate the value of a new double action MR contrast agent——Gd-BOPTA in the diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver with correlation of pathology. Methods Dedicated MRI scans were performed for 5 patients suspected to have liver FNH on clinical and imaging basis (six lesions). The MR imaging protocol included axial T1W and T2W plain scan, coronal T2 weighted imaging, 3D MRCP, Gd-BOPTA enhanced LAVA dynamic tri-phasic acquisitions (scanning at 15 s, 55 s and 90 s respectively), enhanced 2D T1W scan, enhanced LAVA in delay phase (at 5 and 10 min) and in the hepatobiliary phase (at 40 and 80 min). The imaging features on each MR sequence were compared with surgical and pathological findings. Results Six lesions in 5 FNH patients were all correctly diagnosed (5 conformed by surgery and 1 by needle biopsy). ①The hemodynamic phase: The parenchyma of 5 lesions were markedly enhanced in the arterial phase, being isointense or slight hypointense in both the portal venous and delay phases, while 1 lesion was isointense in all phases except being slight hyperintense in the arterial phase; The central scar of 5 lesions were not enhanced in the dynamic phase, but showed delayed enhancement. ②The hepatobiliary (excretory) phase: The parenchyma of all 6 lesions were slight hyperintense or isointense, and tree-like bile ducts with hyperintensity were seen within one lesion. The scar showed no enhancement. ③Pathology: The parenchyma was consisted of disarranged normal hepatocytes but with cytoedema, lack of portal tracts and cholestatic change. The central scar showed rich fibrous tissue, a very thick-walled arteriole, proliferative bile ducts, infiltration of inflammatory cells and myxomatous changes. Conclusion As a dual-phase MR contrast agent capable of depicting both the hemodynamic attributes and hepatobiliary excretion, Gd-BOPTA enhanced MRI can reflect the pathological features of FNH and reach a high diagnostic accuracy.