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Contribution of CT to characterization of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver

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Abstract

Our personal series of 20 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver is presented. All lesions were studied with computed tomography (CT), 16 of which with surgical control. Retrospective evaluation of the CT features of the identified FNH, along with those of five hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) and 30 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), allowed the definition of specific patterns leading to a correct characterization of FNH in 78% of cases. This greatly reduced the diagnostic errors, with the sole exception of patients with fatty liver in whom nuclear medicine may eventually provide a correct characterization. Fine-needle biopsy is thus only necessary in the dubious cases. A precise diagnostic workup of FNH is necessary, since it may avoid the surgical intervention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital, I-37134, Verona, Italy

    Carlo Procacci M.D., Carlo Fugazzola, Marco Cinquino, Loretta Zonta, Ivo Andrea Bergamo Andreis & Gian Franco Pistolesi

  2. Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Verona, Italy

    Gerardo Mangiante & Nicola Nicoli

Authors
  1. Carlo Procacci M.D.
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  2. Carlo Fugazzola
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  3. Marco Cinquino
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  4. Gerardo Mangiante
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  5. Loretta Zonta
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  6. Ivo Andrea Bergamo Andreis
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  7. Nicola Nicoli
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  8. Gian Franco Pistolesi
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Procacci, C., Fugazzola, C., Cinquino, M. et al. Contribution of CT to characterization of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver. Gastrointest Radiol 17, 63–73 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01888511

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01888511

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