Typical CT and MRI signs of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Abstract

To investigate the typical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) features of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH), the CT and MRI findings of 14 histopathologically confirmed cases of HEH were retrospectively analyzed. Non‑contrast and dynamic contrast‑enhanced scans were conducted in all cases. A total of 229 lesions were detected in the 14 cases. All cases were classified as one of three types: (i) Solitary nodular type (1 case, 7%); (ii) multifocal nodular type (11 cases, 79%); or (iii) diffuse type (2 cases, 14%). The diameter of the lesions ranged from 5 to 105 mm. For the first two types (solitary and multifocal nodular types), the CT findings included low density lesions with clear margins on non‑contrast scans, centripetal enhancement in arterial phase, and homogeneous enhancement in the portal venous and delay phases. The findings of non‑contrast MRI scans for these two types included low signal intensity on T1‑weighted images, heterogeneous high signal intensity on T2‑weighted images, and heterogeneous high signal intensity on diffusion‑weighted images. The lesions were predominantly located in submarginal areas. On contrast‑enhanced MRI, the findings for the first two types included peripheral ring‑like enhancement with a central low signal intensity (ʻblack target‑like’ sign) and a central enhanced core surrounded by a low signal intensity halo (ʻwhite target‑like’ sign). The findings for the third HEH type (diffuse type) on CT and MRI scans included low density or heterogeneous signal intensity lesions involving regions of part or the whole liver, coalescent lesions (ʻstrip‑like’ sign), and gradual enhancement along central vessels (ʻlollipop’ sign). Collectively, these findings indicate that the ʻwhite target‑like’ sign, ʻblack target‑like’ sign, ʻlollipop’ sign and ʻstrip‑like’ sign, in addition to capsular contraction and submarginal location, on CT and MRI imaging may have implications for the diagnosis of HEH. Furthermore, a variety of MRI sequences may provide additional information for the differential diagnosis of HEH.