Research advances in MRI features and diagnosis of hepatocellular adenomas / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) are rare benign tumors of the liver, and according to the differences in molecular genetics and pathology, HCA is categorized as inflammatory hepatocellular adenoma (IHCA), HCA with hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-alpha mutation (H-HCA), HCA with β-catenin mutation (β-HCA), and an undefined type. The incidence of these four types is 40%-50%, 30%-40%, 10%-15%, and 10%, respectively. In these four types of HCA, β-HCA has high risk of bleeding and malignant transformation, while H-HCA is not likely to show malignant transformation. Therefore, the accurate diagnosis of these types of HCA is very important. This article introduces the radiological features of these types of HCA on conventional MRI and hepatocyte-targeted contrast-enhanced scan and compares these findings with other types of liver solid tumors such as focal nodular hyperplasia, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, liver cancer in non-cirrhotic patients, and fibrolamellar carcinoma of the liver. It is pointed out that MRI and hepatocyte-targeted contrast agents play an important role in the diagnosis and differentiation of HCA.