Nontumorous hepatic pseudolesion around the falciform ligament: prevalence on gadolinium chelate-enhanced MR examination.

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the prevalence of nontumorous hepatic pseudolesions seen around the falciform ligament on dynamic spoiled three-dimensional (3D) gradient-recalled echo (GRE) MR imaging obtained during i.v. injection of a gadolinium chelate. The gadolinium chelate-enhanced spoiled 3D GRE examinations of the liver of 103 patients were prospectively analyzed by two readers for the presence of a nontumorous hepatic pseudolesion around the falciform ligament to determine the prevalence of this finding. For all pseudolesions, pathologic examination or follow-up imaging studies excluded true tumors. A total of 15 nontumorous hepatic pseudolesions were found on 13 (13%) of 103 examinations. The size of pseudolesions ranged from 5 to 15 mm (mean, 9 mm). Twelve pseudolesions were located in segment IV, and three were in segment III. On two MR examinations, two pseudolesions (one in segment IV and one in segment III) were found. Fourteen (93%) of 15 pseudolesions were seen during the arterial phase of the bolus injection. All pseudolesions (100%) were seen during the portal phase, and one pseudolesion (7%) remained visible during the equilibrium phase. The presence of true tumors was excluded in one case by pathologic examination and in twelve cases by follow-up imaging examinations. Nontumorous hepatic pseudolesions around the falciform ligament are not rarely seen on gadolinium chelate-enhanced spoiled 3D GRE examinations. Thus, recognition of these pseudolesions is crucial because they may be misinterpreted as true tumors.