Imaging Features of Hepatic Adenoma in a Dog with Atypical Computed Tomographic Findings

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) findings of hepatic adenoma in veterinary medicine are variable and unlike in human medicine, not defined clearly. A 12-year-old neutered male Shih Tzu presented after a seizure, with weight loss, salivation, and cachexia. An abdominal mass was identified on radiography, and ultrasonographic images showed a mixed echo pattern with marked vascularity. CT showed that the mass originated from caudate lobe, was heterogeneously hypoattenuated compared with the hepatic parenchyma, and had irregular margins. Contrast enhanced CT showed that the mass enhanced like the surrounding liver parenchyma. However, it contained unenhanced areas and enhanced vessels were observed in the arterial phase at the periphery of the mass. The margins of mass were more enhanced in the venous phase than the arterial phase and the hypoattenuating regions within the mass were not enhanced. Greater enhancing in the venous phase is seen with adenomas; however, the heterogeneous enhancement pattern, especially the marginal vascular enhancement and internal hypoattenuating regions, is seen with malignancy. Although this is a single case of hepatic adenoma, the atypical enhanced pattern of this case can provide useful information to predict the malignancy of primary liver tumor.