I thought it was a hemangioma! A pictorial essay about common and uncommon liver hemangiomas’ mimickers

Abstract

Abstract Focal liver lesions are frequently encountered during imaging studies, and hemangiomas represent the most common solid liver lesion. Liver hemangiomas usually show characteristic imaging features that enable characterization without the need for biopsy or follow-up. On the other hand, there are many benign and malignant liver lesions that may show one or more imaging features resembling hemangiomas that radiologists must be aware of. In this article we will review the typical imaging features of liver hemangiomas and will show a series of potential liver hemangiomas’ mimickers, giving radiologists some hints for improving differential diagnoses. Critical relevance statement The knowledge of imaging features of potential liver hemangiomas mimickers is fundamental to avoid misinterpretation. Key Points Liver hemangiomas typically show imaging features that enable avoiding a biopsy. Many benign and malignant liver lesions show imaging features resembling hemangiomas. Radiologists must know the potentially misleading imaging features of hemangiomas’ mimickers. Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Liver neoplasms
• Hemangioma
• MRI
• CT
• Differential diagnosis