CT profile of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia

Objective To study the features of focal nodular hyperplasia(FNH) on helical computed tomography and to improve its diagnostic accuracy. Methods Clinical, pathologic and CT findings were retrospectively reviewed in 10 patients. Multislice helical CT was performed in 5 patients; single slice helical CT in 5 patients and among them, 3 got post-contrast scaning, 2 got pre-contrast scaning. Results CT found 18 tumors in 10 patients. Eight patients had single focus, while 2 patients had multiple FNH lesions. On pre-contrast scans, 10 of 15 lesions were hypodense, 5 of 15 were isodense. On the arterial phase scans, all the foci were markedly and homogeneously strengthemed except the central scar and septum areas. On the portal phase and delayed phase scans, 11 of 13 lesions changed to isodense or slightly hyperdense, 2 lesions slightly hypodense. Central scar was found in 2 FNH lesions. Tortuous and dilated arteries were found at the central and peripheral area in 1 lesion on arterial phase, enhanced pseudocapsule was showed in 1 lesion on delayed phase. Conclusion Helical CT demonstrates characteristic features of FNH, it is of great value in diagnosing FNH.