The imaging features of osseous metastasis of hepatic alveolar hydatida

Abstract

Objective To investigate the CT and MR imaging feature of osseous metastasis of hepatic alveolar hydatida. Methods CT and MR imaging features of osseous metastasis of hepatic alveolar hydatid were retrospectively analyzed in 14 cases confirmed by clinic and radiology. Results Of the 10 vertebral metastasises, three vertebral bodies were involved in 6 cases, two adjacent vertebral bodies were involved in 2 cases, single vertebral body was involved in 1 case, corresponding vertebral accessory was involved in 9 cases, irregular mass was formed in paravertebral muscles with ill-defined margins in 9 cases, adjacent ribs were involved in 6 cases. On CT scans, the lesions of vertebral body showed osteolytic and geographical bone destruction with bone sclerosis. The lesions of vertebral accessory showed swelling and osteolytic bone destruction, small cystic density and calcification of cystic wall and irregular calcification were found in 7 cases. The lesions of scapula, costal cartilage, ribs and pelvis showed swelling and osteolytic bone destruction, and bone sclerosis, and revealed cystic density with calcified speckles. On MR scans, the lesions of vertebral body and paravertebral muscles showed high and low mixed signal, with hypointensity on T1WI and T2WI, vertebral accessory and adjacent ribs were involved in 6 cases. Small cyst with T2 hyperintensity was found in 4 cases. The lesions of ribs and pelvis showed swelling and osteolytic bone destruction and adjacent medullary appeared hypointensity on T1WI and T2WI, cystic signal of T2 hyperintensity was identified. There were 5 cases of pulmonary metastasis and 6 cases of retroperitoneal metastasis. Conclusion Imaging features of osteolytic, geographical bone destruction with bone sclerosis, small cystic density or cystic signal and calcified speckles or arc calcification in mass are helpful for the diagnosis of osseous metastasis of hepatic alveolar hydatid. Key words: Echinococcosis, hepatic; Spinal diseases; Tomography, spiral computed; Magnetic resonance imaging; Alveolar echinococcosis; Metastasis