MR imaging in intracystic hemorrhage of simple hepatic cysts

EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of cystic liver diseases

The advent of enhanced radiological imaging techniques has facilitated the diagnosis of cystic liver lesions. Concomitantly, the evidence base supporting the management of these diseases has matured over the last decades. As a result, comprehensive clinical guidance on the subject matter is warranted. These Clinical Practice Guidelines cover the diagnosis and management of hepatic cysts, mucinous cystic neoplasms of the liver, biliary hamartomas, polycystic liver disease, Caroli disease, Caroli syndrome, biliary hamartomas and peribiliary cysts. On the basis of in-depth review of the relevant literature we provide recommendations to navigate clinical dilemmas followed by supporting text. The recommendations are graded according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine system and categorised as 'weak' or 'strong'. We aim to provide the best available evidence to aid the clinical decision-making process in the management of patients with cystic liver disease.

Transcatheter arterial embolization for hemorrhagic rupture of a simple hepatic cyst: A case report

Hemorrhagic rupture is a very rare and life-threatening hepatic cyst complication. Several treatment methods have been used for hepatic cyst hemorrhage and/or rupture; however, transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatic cyst hemorrhage has been poorly documented. An 80-year-old man receiving dual antiplatelet therapy was diagnosed with hemorrhagic rupture of a hepatic cyst. Transcatheter arterial embolization using a coil was performed for A6 branch confirmed active extravasation. His condition improved promptly after treatment, and the hepatic cyst gradually became smaller as compared to the size before hemorrhage. Transcatheter arterial embolization is suitable for hepatic cyst hemorrhage and might be a minimally invasive treatment option for a symptomatic hepatic cyst.

Congenital hepatic cyst with intracystic hemorrhage: Two rare cases reports in the Chinese Han population

INTRODUCTION

Fast-growing congenital hepatic cysts with intracystic hemorrhage are rare in clinical practice. Additionally, the clinical manifestations of and laboratory and imaging findings for this condition are often nonspecific and are particularly difficult to differentiate from those of hepatobiliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma, thus posing great challenges for diagnosis and treatment. The 2 case reports presented here aim to analyze the diagnosis and treatment of 2 rare cases of congenital hepatic cysts with intracystic hemorrhage in the Chinese Han population to provide an important reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

DIAGNOSES

These 2 case reports present 2 rare cases of congenital hepatic cysts with intracystic hemorrhage. Case 1 involved a 31-year-old patient with a very large, fast-growing hepatic cyst with intracystic hemorrhage and elevated carbohydrate antigen 199. Case 2 involved a patient with intense, paroxysmal right upper abdominal pain; computed tomography suggested a hepatic cyst with intracystic hemorrhage and possibly hepatobiliary cystadenoma.

OUTCOMES

Both patients underwent liver resection. Postoperative follow-up showed that for both patients, the symptoms improved, the laboratory findings returned to normal levels, and the surgical outcomes were satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

Liver resection is an ideal treatment for patients with congenital hepatic cysts with intracystic hemorrhage, and especially those with fast-growing, symptomatic hepatic cysts or hepatic cysts that are difficult to differentiate from hepatobiliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma.

Hepatic cyst with intracystic bleeding: contrast-enhanced sonographic findings

Intracystic bleeding is a relatively rare complication of hepatic cysts, which is very difficult to diagnose by conventional sonography (US). Hence, a new US technique has been sought for this purpose. We present the case of a hepatic cyst with intracystic bleeding in which contrast-enhanced US showed microbubbles oozing from the cyst wall into the cystic cavity. Contrast-enhanced US is now an important diagnostic tool for diagnosing liver tumors, but contrast-enhanced US findings relating to intracystic bleeding have not been reported. Our observations suggest that this technique may be a useful new diagnostic tool for this purpose.

Predictors of treatment response following aspiration sclerotherapy of hepatic cysts: an international pooled analysis of individual patient data

Objectives

To identify predictive variables of treatment response following aspiration sclerotherapy of large symptomatic hepatic cysts.

Methods

We collected individual patient data from two tertiary referral centres and included all patients treated with aspiration sclerotherapy of a large (>5 cm), symptomatic hepatic cyst. At six months, clinical response was defined as complete or incomplete. Secondary, suboptimal technical response was defined as lower quartile of cyst reduction. Predictive variables of clinical and technical response were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Results

We included 86 patients (58 ± 10 years; female 90 %). Complete clinical response rate was 55 %. Median cyst diameter and volume reduction were 71 % (IQR 50-87 %) and 98 % (IRQ 88-100 %), respectively. Patients with complete clinical response had a significantly higher cyst reduction compared to incomplete responders (OR 1.02, 95 % CI 1.00-1.04). Aspiration of haemorrhagic cyst fluid (OR 4.39, 95 % CI 1.34-14.39) or a lower cyst reduction at one month (OR 1.06, 95 % CI 1.02-1.10) was associated with a suboptimal technical response at six months.

Conclusion

Complete clinical response is associated with effective cyst reduction. Aspiration of haemorrhagic cyst fluid or a restricted diameter reduction at one month predicts a suboptimal technical treatment response, however, these variables did not predict symptom disappearance.

Key Points

• Aspiration sclerotherapy of hepatic cysts shows excellent clinical and technical efficacy.

• Optimal clinical responders have a markedly higher cyst reduction.

• Haemorrhagic aspirate and a strong fluid reaccumulation predict suboptimal cyst reduction.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00330-016-4363-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Hepatic Intracystic Organizing Hematoma Mimicking Biliary Cystadenocarcinoma in a Patient with Polycystic Liver Disease

Hepatic intracystic hemorrhage is a rare complication of polycystic liver diseases, such as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). A hepatic cyst with mural nodules and septation may suggest the presence of a cystic malignancy, such as biliary cystadenocarcinoma. We herein report a case of hepatic intracystic hematoma with a mural nodule mimicking biliary cystadenocarcinoma in a patient with ADPKD. Hepatic intracystic hemorrhage with a mural nodule is a very rare occurrence. A fat-saturated T1-weighted magnetic resonance image may be useful for making an accurate diagnosis of intracystic hematoma.

Hepatic cysts treated with percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy: time to extend the indications to haemorrhagic cysts and polycystic liver disease

OBJECTIVES

To describe the long-term clinical and morphological outcome of symptomatic hepatic cysts treated with percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy (PES).

METHODS

From December 2003 to September 2011, all patients with hepatic cysts undergoing PES with a follow-up after 12 months were included. Evolution of the volume of the cysts and clinical and biological data were recorded. Features of the cyst were evaluated in each patient: simple, haemorrhagic or developed on underlying polycystic liver disease (PCLD).

RESULTS

Fifty-eight cysts (median volume 666 mL) were treated in 57 patients (52 women, mean age 58 years (18-80)). Twenty-two patients (39 %) had simple hepatic cysts, 19 (33 %) had dominant cysts on PCLD and 20 had haemorrhagic cysts (34.5 %), including 4 with PCLD. After a mean 27.3 months of follow-up, the final median cystic volume was 13.5 mL (p < 0.0001), and the median reduction in cyst volume was 94 % (58-100 %). Treatment was satisfactory in 95 % of the patients (54/57) (symptoms disappeared in 45/57 (79 %), decreased in 9/57 (16 %)). There was no clinical or morphological difference between patients with PCLD, haemorrhagic cysts or simple cysts.

CONCLUSION

The clinical and morphological efficacy of a single session of PES is very high, regardless of the presence of intracystic haemorrhage or underlying PCLD.

KEY POINTS

• The clinical efficacy of percutaneous ethanol sclerotherapy is very high. • Haemorrhagic content should not be a contraindication for percutaneous sclerotherapy. • Dominant cysts on polycystic liver disease should be treated with PES. • Imaging follow-up should not be performed shortly after the procedure.

Evaluation of hepatic cystic lesions

Hepatic cysts are increasingly found as a mere coincidence on abdominal imaging techniques, such as ultrasonography (USG), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These cysts often present a diagnostic challenge. Therefore, we performed a review of the recent literature and developed an evidence-based diagnostic algorithm to guide clinicians in characterising these lesions. Simple cysts are the most common cystic liver disease, and diagnosis is based on typical USG characteristics. Serodiagnostic tests and microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) are invaluable in differentiating complicated cysts, echinococcosis and cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma when USG, CT and MRI show ambiguous findings. Therefore, serodiagnostic tests and CEUS reduce the need for invasive procedures. Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is arbitrarily defined as the presence of > 20 liver cysts and can present as two distinct genetic disorders: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease (PCLD). Although genetic testing for ADPKD and PCLD is possible, it is rarely performed because it does not affect the therapeutic management of PLD. USG screening of the liver and both kidneys combined with extensive family history taking are the cornerstone of diagnostic decision making in PLD. In conclusion, an amalgamation of these recent advances results in a diagnostic algorithm that facilitates evidence-based clinical decision making.

An intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct mimicking a hemorrhagic hepatic cyst: a case report

An intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct is a biliary, epithelium-lined, cystic lesion that exhibits papillary proliferation and rarely causes large hemorrhagic cystic lesions. Here, we report a case of an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct mimicking a hemorrhagic hepatic cyst in a middle-aged man with large hemorrhagic hepatic cysts who experienced abdominal pain and repeated episodes of intracystic bleeding. Following portal vein embolization, extended right hepatic lobectomy was performed, and intraoperative cholangiography revealed communication between the intracystic space and the hepatic duct. Although histological studies revealed that the large hemorrhagic lesion was not lined with epithelium, the surrounding multilocular lesions contained biliary-derived epithelial cells that presented as papillary growths without ovarian-like stroma. A diagnosis of oncocytic-type intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct was made, and we hypothesized that intracystic bleeding with denudation of the lining epithelial cells might occur as the cystically dilated bile duct increased in size. Differential diagnosis between a hemorrhagic cyst and a cyst-forming intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct with bleeding is difficult. However, an intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct could manifest as multilocular hemorrhagic lesions; therefore, complete resection should be performed for a better prognosis.

Hemorrhagic hepatic cyst: report of a case and review of the literature with emphasis on clinical approach and management

OBJECTIVE

Hemorrhage within a hepatic cyst (hemorrhagic hepatic cyst, HHC) is a complication of liver cysts that is difficult to differentiate from other neoplastic entities on imaging. Even when accurately diagnosed, there has been a lack of consensus on the optimal treatment strategy. After presenting our experience with a patient treated via laparoscopy, we aimed to conduct a review of the literature on HHCs.

METHODS

A computerized search in Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, and The Cochrane Collaboration was carried out for journal articles or abstracts published from 1950 to 2011.

RESULTS

A total of 24 patients with HHCs were identified from 1983 to 2011. The cohort had an even gender distribution with a mean age of 62.7 years. Most patients presented with abdominal pain (80 %), while three (14 %) patients were asymptomatic at the time of presentation. CT imaging and ultrasound were unable to accurately diagnose HHC, whereas hyperintensity on MRI was a reliable diagnostic tool. Three (13 %) patients were managed conservatively with observation. Seven (30 %) patients had percutaneous transhepatic drainage. Among these, two patients experienced recurrence that required repeat treatment. Two (9 %) patients underwent open unroofing of their HHC and one (4 %) laparoscopically, without recurrences. Seven (30 %) patients underwent hepatic resection, whereas six (26 %) patients had a cyst enucleation for their HHCs. All patients had uneventful recoveries, with a mean follow-up of 25 months.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI is a reliable diagnostic tool in the setting of an HHC. Laparoscopic unroofing of HHCs may represent a less morbid and safe treatment modality with low recurrence rates. Given the low level of clinical evidence available so far, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Focal liver lesions hyperintense on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images

This article reviews focal liver lesions hyperintense on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images and describes the underlying etiologies associated with their T1 signal intensity. Although focal liver lesions are commonly detected because of their iso- or hypointensity on T1-weighted images, lesions (benign or malignant) may present with T1 hyperintensity when they contain T1 shortening elements--such as fat, hemorrhage, copper, melanin, and highly concentrated proteins. Our discussion includes the description of state-of-the-art T1-weighted MR sequences and the imaging features of lesions on pre- and postcontrast MR images that are characteristic for lesion composition and useful for making accurate diagnosis.

Cystic tumors of the liver: a practical approach

Biliary cyst tumors (cystadenoma and cystadeno-carcinoma) are an indication for liver resection. They account for only 5% of all solitary cystic lesions of the liver, but differential diagnosis with multiloculated or complicated biliary cysts, atypical hemangiomas, hamartomas and lymphangiomas may be difficult. The most frequent challenge is to differentiate biliary cyst tumors from hemorrhagic cysts. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are often not diagnostic and in these cases fine needle aspiration (FNA) is used to confirm the presence of atypical biliary cells. FNA, however, lacks adequate sensitivity and specificity and should always be used in conjunction with imaging. Pre-operative differentiation of cystadenoma from cystadenocarcinoma is impossible and surgery must be performed if a biliary cyst tumor is suspected. When multiple cystic lesions are observed throughout the liver parenchyma, it is important to exclude liver metastasis, of which colonic cancer is the most common primary site. Multiple biliary hamartomas (von Meyenburg complex) can appear as a mixture of solid and cystic lesions and can be confused with cystic metastasis. Strong and uniform T2 hyperintensity on MRI is usually diagnostic, but occasionally a percutaneous biopsy may be required.

A case report of a pyogenic liver abscess caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum in a patient with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a process with significant morbidity and mortality and is a rare complication in an aisled way in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). In addition to hepatic cyst infection, intracystic hemorrhage is another complication seen in ADPKD patients; however, the liver parenchyma itself remains normal. A PLA located in normal liver tissue in these kinds of patients has not been previously reported. Fusobacterium nucleatum is an anaerobic bacterium with rare involvement other than in periodontal infections. A 58-year-old Caucasian male, who was on hemodialysis treatment from July 2004 due to end-stage renal disease secondary to ADPKD, was admitted with fever, rigor, chills, weakness, and abdominal pain of 10 days duration. During that time, ciprofloxacin 500 mg, twice daily, gentamycin 80 mg/48 h, and vancomycin 1 g/week, were prescribed, but treatment was interrupted by hospitalization. Physical examination on admission revealed that the patient had a fever of 39.8 degrees C, pallor, chills, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and hepatosplenomegaly. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a 5.3 cm diameter collection with irregular configuration located in the caudate lobe. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a large multiloculated hepatic collection. The PLA was managed with antibiotics (metronidazole) and continuous catheter drainage (8Fr drainage catheters [Abocath-T, Abbott, Sligo, Ireland]) into the abscess. Fluid culture was positive for F. nucleatum. Complete remission was obtained after 12 days without complications. We describe a PLA by F. nucleatum, in a very rare location in an ADPKD patient undergoing hemodialysis without complicated cysts, managed with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage with satisfactory resolution.

[Imaging of cystic liver diseases]

The high frequency of benign and asymptomatic liver cysts must not underevaluate the potential diagnostic difficulties of liver cystic diseases. Complicated liver cyst or cystic mass of various origin, such as developmental, neoplastic or inflammatory, are important to be recognized by the radiologist. The diagnostic approach is depending on the number of lesions and their dissemination. The presence of a wall, the internal structure of the lesion, particularly the MR signal and the proximity of the biliary tree are the main diagnostic criteria. Some less frequent but characteristic unusual features need to be memorized.

[Liver and focal liver contrast: radiologic-pathologic correlation]

Knowledge of the histological features of different components of a liver lesion greatly assists radiologists because it provides understanding of the correspondingimaging features. The imaging characteristics of lesions depend on variations of the extracellular architecture, mainly surrounding stromal tissue. Until histological imaging techniques become available, cellular analysis relies on optical microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Recent advances in imaging techniques now provide additional information on lesions due to improved spatial, temporal and contrast resolution. Correct interpretation of these imaging features should improve diagnosis.

Laparoscopic treatment using an argon beam coagulator for nonparasitic liver cysts

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic deroofing has been shown to produce good patient satisfaction and to have results similar to those of open surgical techniques. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic deroofing using an argon beam coagulator (ABC) in the patients with nonparasitic liver cysts.

METHODS

Laparoscopic deroofing for the treatment of liver cysts was attempted on 14 patients. After the deroofing, the secreting epithelium within the residual cystic cavity wall was destroyed using the ABC.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic deroofing was successful in all patients. No deaths or surgical morbidity occurred, and no postoperative complications were recorded. The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days. The median follow-up was 56 months for all patients, and all patients have remained completely asymptomatic for 6 months after the surgery, with no recurrence of the cysts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that laparoscopic deroofing using the ABC method in patients with nonparasitic liver cysts was effective in preventing cyst recurrence.

MR imaging of benign hepatic tumors

Use of a state-of-the-art pattern recognition approach and the combination of various MR sequences and contrast enhancement techniques makes it possible to diagnose most benign hepatic tumors with confidence.

Haemorrhagic hepatic cyst: a differential diagnosis of cystic tumour

A 63-year-old man was found on ultrasound examination to have a hepatic cystic mass with a mural nodule, which was mildly enhanced on contrast enhanced CT and MRI. At surgery, the cystic fluid was haemorrhagic and histological examination of the mural nodule demonstrated an organized haematoma. This case is of interest in that an apparent mural nodule was present in a non-neoplastic cyst. Haemorrhagic hepatic cyst with an organized haematoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of cystic neoplasms.

Biliary cystadenocarcinoma: sonographic and cytologic findings

Biliary cystadenocarcinoma is a rare hepatic cystic tumor. We report sonographic, CT, and MRI findings in an unusual case in an 87-year-old man. The diagnosis was aided by sonographically guided needle aspiration of the lesion, which revealed elevated levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and CA 19-9 in the cystic fluid.

Acute and subacute liver-related hemorrhage: MRI findings

We retrospectively reviewed the MR studies on all patients with liver-related fluid collections compatible with acute or early subacute hemorrhage, who underwent MR imaging at our center between June 1994 and January 1998. All patients had a clinical history of an underlying liver lesion or injury with a duration of symptomatology of less than 5 days. In three patients with only 2-3 days of symptoms, the liver-related hemorrhagic fluid was hypointense on T1-weighted images and markedly hypointense on T2-weighted images relative to liver, consistent with intracellular deoxyhemoglobin. The fluid was relatively homogeneous in signal intensity. In three patients with 3-5 days of symptoms, the majority of liver-related fluid was hyperintense on T1-weighted images and hypointense on T2-weighted images relative to liver, consistent with intracellular methemoglobin. Three of these latter four patients also had fluid collections of varying T1-and T2-weighted signal intensity consistent with blood breakdown products of varying ages. Clinical findings matched the MR findings of acute/early subacute blood in all cases. Our results describe the findings of acute and early subacute liver hemorrhage. The most helpful MR feature of bleeding of recent origin is very low signal intensity of the fluid on T2-weighted imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging of focal and diffuse hepatic disease

MRI is a powerful tool in the detection and characterization of both focal and diffuse liver pathology. Because of superior soft tissue characterization, direct multi-planar capabilities and lack of ionizing radiation, current state of the art MRI is useful when contrast CT is relatively contraindicated or not definitive. This article reviews the MRI findings of the most common focal and diffuse liver diseases encountered in clinical practice. Reviews of current MR techniques and MR contrast agents used in liver imaging have been recently published. For this article, discussion of specific techniques and use of contrast is addressed for each pathological entity discussed.

Laparoscopic treatment of symptomatic cysts of the liver

BACKGROUND

Reports of successful treatment of liver cysts by the laparoscopic approach prompted the use of this technique in a series of patients.

METHODS

Ten patients with symptomatic liver cysts were treated by the laparoscopic deroofing technique. Eight patients had one solitary cyst, one had two cysts and the remaining patient had polycystic disease with a giant cyst. Hydatid disease was excluded serologically and radiologically but albendazole was used before operation in six cases because hydatid disease is endemic in Argentina.

RESULTS

There was no surgical morbidity or death. For between 6 months and 3 years all patients were asymptomatic. Computed tomography showed recurrence of a cyst in one patient, who was successfully reoperated on laparoscopically.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic fenestration of either solitary or multiple liver cysts is the treatment of choice. It produces minimal surgical trauma, shorter hospital stay and avoids the morbidity of laparotomy. Reduced postoperative adhesions allows repeated procedures if the condition recurs.