ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the role of contrast enhanced CT (CECT) scanning in the diagnosis and treatment planning of some rare liver tumors. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the CECT imaging features of 10 cases with rare tumors of the liver proved by surgical pathology in 8 cases or by liver biopsy in 2 cases, with correlation of relevant clinical manifestations, laboratory results and surgical findings. Results Three cases were histopathologically proved to be benign, and 7 cases were malignant. On CT images, the liver lesions were mixed cystic solid in 5 cases, totally solid in the other 5. Eight cases demonstrated heterogeneous enhancement, while 2 cases of liver lymphoma had no enhancement. The anatomic relationship of tumors to intrahepatic vasculature, the compression and infiltration of neighboring abdominal structures were accurately delineated by CT as compared with findings at operation. Clinical manifestations and laboratory findings were not useful for the qualitative diagnosis of rare liver tumors, except for hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion CECT is very useful for the detection of rare liver tumors and the fine depiction of local extent of these tumors. When correlated with clinical and laboratory information, it helps to differentiate rare liver tumors from hepatocellular carcinoma. But its role in the characterization of rare liver tumors is limited.