J Korean Radiol Soc.  1998 Feb;38(2):267-271. 10.3348/jkrs.1998.38.2.267.

CT Features of Malignant Hepatic Tumors: the Significance of Capsular Retraction

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Korea University College of Medicine.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of capsular retraction in malignant hepatic tumors and the factorsinvolved.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between January 1994 and December 1996, we retrospectively reviewed the CT scansof 152 patients with pathologically-proven, peripherally-located, malignant hepatic tumors. We evaluated size,site, portal and hepatic venous obstruction, bile duct dilatation, and liver atrophy in 18 cases involvingcapsular retraction.
RESULTS
The overall prevalence of capsular retraction among malignant hepatic tumors was18/152(12%) ; the prevalence was 9/129(7%) in hepatocellular carcinoma, 6/14(43%) in cholangiocarcinoma and3/9(33%) in metastatic cancer ; among cases of cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic cancer, the prevalence washigh(p <0.05). Portal venous obstruction was seen in six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (a high incidence ;p=0.041) and one with cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatic venous obstruction was demonstrated in one patient withhepatocellular carcinoma and one with cholangiocarcinoma. Among cholangiocarcinoma patients, bile duct obstructionwas seen in four and liver atrophy in three, but among metastatic cancer cases there were no similar findings.
CONCLUSION
The main factors causing capsular retraction were portal venous obstruction in hepatocellularcarcinoma and bile duct obstruction and liver atrophy in cholangiocarcinoma.

Keyword

Liver neoplasms, CT; Liver neoplasms, diagnosis

MeSH Terms

Atrophy
Bile Ducts
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholestasis
Dilatation
Humans
Incidence
Liver
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Full Text Links
  • JKRS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr