Imaging appearances of primary hepatic and gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinomas / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To review the imaging appearances and clinical symptoms of primary hepatic and gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinomas (PHGNC). Methods Five patients (4 females and 1 male) were examined. Long-term diarrhea not controlled by drug was found in four patients, and two of them accompanied by abdominal pain. The liver rupture occurred in one case due to the huge tumor bleeding. Five patients were examined by using ultrasonography (US), four patients by CT, and three patients by hepatic angiography. The tumor originated from liver in three cases, from liver and gallbladder in one case, and from gallbladder in one case. The tumors were diagnosed by surgery in 3 cases, by biopsy and by autopsy in 1 case, respectively. Results Multiple hyperechoic inhomogeneous masses in two cases and hypoechoic inhomogeneous masses in one case were revealed, all with some small fluid areas and abundant vessels. A huge cyst-solid tumor was clearly demonstrated by using US. A small mural nodule along the gallbladder wall was displayed by using US in a gallbladder tumor, and it showed no specific sign in the diagnosis. CT findings included hypodense inhomogeneous masses on plain CT scan, and slightly enhanced masses with some small fluid areas after injection of contrast agent. A huge cyst-solid tumor was clearly displayed by CT due to the hemorrhage, necrosis, and cystic changes in the tumor. Hepatoangiography displayed abundant vessels and stain in the solid part of the tumor, and absent vessel in the cystic region of the cyst-solid tumor accompanied by dislocation of surrounding vessels. Conclusion Imaging appearances of the liver tumor were inhomogeneous mass with abundant vessels and tumor stains. Imaging appearances of the gallbladder tumor were raised mural nodule along the gallbladder wall without specific sign in the diagnosis of the tumor. The tumor may develop hemorrhage, necrosis, and cystic changes if it is large enough. PHGNC was prone to hepatic metastases. The patients often presented with diarrhea and abdominal pain.