Caracterização clínica e patológica dos linfomas hepáticos: um estudo retrospetivo unicêntrico / Clinical and pathological characterization of hepatic lymphomas: a retrospective single-center study

ABSTRACT Background: The incidence of hepatic lymphoma has been increasing recently and diagnosis can be challenging as clinical presentation and radiological findings are usually variable and non-specific. Objective The aims of this study were to describe their main clinical, pathological and imaging characteristics and identify poor prognostic factors. Methods A retrospective study that included all patients with histological diagnosis of liver lymphoma over a 10-year period at our center was performed. Results A total of 36 patients were identified, with mean age of 56.6 years and male predominance (58%). There were three patients with primary liver lymphoma (8.3%) and 33 with secondary liver lymphoma (91.7%). The most common histological type was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (33.3%). The most common clinical manifestations included fever, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, night sweats and abdominal discomfort; three patients (11.1%) were asymptomatic. Computed tomography scan revealed heterogenous radiological patterns including a single nodule (26.5%), multiple nodules (41.2%) or diffuse infiltration (32.4%). The mortality rate during follow-up was 55.6%. Higher levels of C-reactive protein (P=0.031) and absence of treatment response (P<0.001) were significantly associated with higher mortality. Conclusion Hepatic lymphoma is a rare disease that may involve liver as part of a systemic disease or, less commonly, be confined to this organ. Clinical presentation and radiological findings are often variable and non-specific. It is associated with high mortality and poor prognostic factors include higher levels of C-reactive protein and absence of response to treatment.

RESUMO Contexto A incidência de linfoma hepático tem aumentando recentemente e o diagnóstico pode ser desafiante, na medida em que a apresentação clínica e os achados imagiológicos são geralmente variáveis e inespecíficos. Objetivo: Os objetivos deste estudo foram descrever suas principais características clínicas, patológicas e de imagem e identificar fatores de mau prognóstico. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo retrospetivo que incluiu todos os pacientes com diagnóstico histológico de linfoma hepático num período de 10 anos no nosso centro. Resultados: Foram identificados 36 pacientes, com média de idade de 56,6 anos e predomínio de género masculino (58%). Havia três pacientes com linfoma hepático primário (8,3%) e 33 com linfoma hepático secundário (91,7%). O tipo histológico mais comum foi o linfoma difuso de grandes células B (33,3%). As manifestações clínicas mais comuns incluíram febre, linfadenopatia, emagrecimento, hipersudorese noturna e desconforto abdominal; 3 (11,1%) pacientes eram assintomáticos. A tomografia computadorizada revelou padrões radiológicos heterogêneos, incluindo um único nódulo (26,5%), múltiplos nódulos (41,2%) ou infiltração difusa (32,4%). A taxa de mortalidade durante o seguimento foi de 55,6%. Níveis mais elevados de proteína C reativa (P=0,031) e ausência de resposta ao tratamento (P<0,001) foram significativamente associados a maior mortalidade. Conclusão O linfoma hepático é uma doença rara que pode envolver o fígado como parte de uma doença sistêmica ou, menos comumente, estar confinado a este órgão. A apresentação clínica e os achados radiológicos são frequentemente variáveis e inespecíficos. Associa-se a elevada mortalidade e fatores de mau prognóstico incluem níveis mais elevados de proteína C reativa e ausência de resposta ao tratamento.

Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma of the Liver: Helical CT Findings

PURPOSE: To describe the morphologic features and enhancement patterns of the helical computed tomography (CT) observed in patients with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EH) of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients (four men and three women; mean age, 41 years) with pathologically proven EHs underwent monophasic (n=2), biphasic (n=2) or triphasic (n=3) helical CT, and the findings were retrospectively analysed. The morphologic features to which attention was directed were tumor number, size, location, shape, margin, surface, the presence of adjacent capsular retraction, vascular encasement and confluent mass formation, while the enhancement pattern was examined in terms of the appearance and degree of enhancement during the arterial or portal phase, and enhancement change during the portal and equilibrium phases. RESULTS: Six patients had multiple tumors, and one had a single lesion. The maximon diameter of these tumors ranged from 0.5 to 12.0 (mean, 3.2) cm, and almost all occurred in the peripheral portion of the liver. The shape, margin and surface features of the tumors varied: in four patients, the margin was poorly defined and the surface was smooth, while in five, adjacent capsular retraction was observed. Vascular encasement was noted in five of six patients with hepatic vessels abutting the tumors, and in all three who were follow up, the growth pattern involved confluent mass formation. In all patients, many tumors showed either nodular (n=3) or irregular (n=4) peripheral enhancement. In all five patients who underwent multiphasic CT, centripetal enhancement was demoustrated. CONCLUSION: Our results disclosed that most patients with EH had multiple tumors, and that almost all were located in the peripheral portion of the liver and involved capsular retraction. The other common CT findings were vascular encasement and a centripetal enhancement pattern. When these CT findings are observed in patients with hepatic tumors, EH should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Adenomatous Hyperplasia of the Liver: Triple-phase Helical CT Findings

PURPOSE: To evaluate the triple-phase helical CT findings of adenomatous hyperplasia of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven cases of adenomatous hyperplasias (size range: 8 -45 mm, mean: 14mm) in nineteen patients were confirmed by histologic examination following surgery (n=32) or gun biopsy (n=15) and formed the basis of this study. All patients underwent helical CT scanning involving the injection of 100mL nonionic contrast material at a rate of 3mL/sec. Hepatic arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase CT images were obtained 30, 60, and 180 seconds, respectively, after the start of contrast injection. The attenuation of each nodule (hyper-, iso-, hypo-, or mixed) was retrospectively determined and the detection rate according to lesion size (> or =14mm or or =14mm) and 76 % (16/21) in the large size group(< 14mm). This rate was thus significantly higher in the large size group than in that in which lesions were small. CONCLUSION: Triple -phase helical CT revealed that in cases of adenomatous hyperplasia, attenuation was variable,with iso-attenuation the most frequent type. Seventy-six percent of nodules larger than 14 mm were detected. Adenomatous hyperplasia may be seen during the hepatic arterial phase as a hyper-attenuated nodule.