Hepatic Lymphoma: CT and Sonographic Findings

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe the computed tomographic (CT) and sonographic (US) findings of hepatic lymphoma presenting as focal lesion(s). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1989 to August 1996, CT (n = 9) and US (n = 7) findings of ten patients with hepatic lymphoma were retrospectively analyzed. Three were suffering from primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), six had secondary NHL and one had Hodgkin's disease (HD). Findings were analysed with respect to number and contour of the lesions, associated lymphadenopathy or splenic lesion, and the presence or absence of normal vascular structure in the mass. In addition, echogenicity of the lesion and the presence of a capsule or halo was analyzed on US and enhancement pattern was analyzed on CT. RESULTS: Single nodular type lesions were seen in six patients (three primary NHL, three secondary NHL) and the multinodular type were seen in four (three secondary NHL and one HD). Contour was smooth in two patients with secondary NHL and ill-defined or lobulated in all other patients. Lymphadenopathy was seen in three of six patients with secondary NHL, and splenic lesions were seen in the other three. The echogenicity of the mass was mixed in three, homogeneously low in two and target shaped in two. The enhancement pattern was highly variable. CONCLUSION: Hepatic lymphoma has variable radiologic features, so differentiation from other tumorous conditions of the liver was difficult. A history of lymphoma in other part(s) of the body, associated splenic lesion(s) or abdominal lymphadenopathy or normal vasculature within a tumor may suggest the presence of hepatic lymphoma.