The Value of “Transient Hepatic Parenchyma Enhancement” in DifferentiationBetween Hepatic Abscess and Hepatic Metastasis

Objective To investigate the role of transient hepatic parenchyma enhancement (THPE) in differentiation between hepatic abscess and hepatic metastasis.Methods Dynamic enhanced spiral CT was performed in 34 patients with hepatic abscess and 29 patients with hepatic metastasis. The images were retrospectively analyzed.Results THPE was showed in 68.1% of hepatic abscesses (32/47 ) , while only in 21.5% of hepatic metastases ( 9/52 ). When “THPE around at least one lesion” acted as the criterion for deciding that one patients suffered from hepatic abscess, the sensitivity and specificity was 70.6% and 79.3% respectively.Conclusion THPE is much more often showed around hepatic abscess than around hepatic metastasis. THPE around lesion is useful CT finding for differentiate hepatic abscess from hepatic metastasis.