Use of foetal MRI in diagnosing hepatic hemangioendotheliomas: A report of four cases

Comparison of the clinical and MRI features of patients with hepatic hemangioma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, or angiosarcoma

Background

Comparisons of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE), hepatic hemangioma, and hepatic angiosarcoma (HAS) have rarely been reported. The purpose of our study was to analyze the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of these conditions.

Methods

A total of 57 patients (25 with hemangioma, 13 with HEHE, and 19 with HAS) provided hepatic vascular endothelial cell data between June 2006 and May 2017.

Results

The proportions of cases with circumscribed margins were 88% (22/25), 84.6% (11/13), and 31.6% (6/19) for hemangioma, HEHE, and HAS, respectively (P < 0.001). HAS lesions were less likely to have circumscribed margins. The proportions of lesions with hemorrhaging were 4% (1/25), 30.8% (4/13), and 36.8% (7/19) for hemangioma, HEHE, and HAS, respectively (P = 0.014). HEHE and HAS cases were more likely to show heterogeneous signals on T1-weighted (T1WI) MRI. HEHE and HAS cases were more likely to show heterogeneous signals on T2-weighted (T2WI) MRI. Centripetal enhancement was the most common pattern in vascular tumors, with proportions of 100, 46.2% (6/13), and 68.4% (13/19) for hemangioma, HEHE, and HAS, respectively. The difference in enhancement pattern between HEHE and HAS was not significant, but rim enhancement was more common for HEHE (46.2%, 6/13).

Conclusions

Our study revealed clinical and imaging differences between HEHE and HAS. The platelet count (PLT) and coagulation function of the HAS group decreased, whereas the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level increased. The 5-year survival rate for HAS was significantly lower than that of HEHE. A higher malignancy degree indicated a more blurred lesion margin, easier occurrence of hemorrhaging, and more heterogeneous T1WI and T2WI signals.

Giant hepatic hemangioma in the fetus: case reports and updated review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

To describe three cases of giant fetal hepatic hemangioma detected by prenatal ultrasound in the third trimester of pregnancy and further confirmed by fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An updated review of the literature was also carried out.

RESULTS

In one case, there was an unexpected intrauterine demise at 35 weeks. The other two women delivered liveborn infants at term. The first of these two neonates had a stormy neonatal course and underwent endovascular embolization with limited clinical success. The infant presented multiple medical complications and was discharged home at five months of age. The second infant had an uneventful postnatal course. Subsequent follow-up scans showed progressive shrinkage of the lesion with no associated complications. A review of the English literature revealed a total of 42 cases prenatally diagnosed by ultrasound. The most relevant clinical and ultrasound findings are presented and the diverse perinatal outcomes related to this condition are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal hepatic hemangiomas are exceedingly rare vascular tumors; however, they can be associated with several life-threatening conditions. They are usually detected by ultrasound, either incidentally or in the context of nonimmune hydrops secondary to high-output cardiac failure. Our review documents the increasing role of fetal MRI in the prenatal diagnosis and management of these cases. However, the improvement in prenatal diagnostic imaging techniques has not been associated with a better perinatal prognosis in the reported cases.

[Prenatal diagnosis and management of fetal hepatic hemangioma]

OBJECTIVE

To review the application of medical imaging in diagnosis and management of fetal hepatic hemangioma.

METHODS

Clinical data and imaging findings of 14 cases of fetal hepatic hemangioma, who were diagnosed prenatally and followed up in Women's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from February 2014 to September 2018 were retrospective reviewed.

RESULTS

The fetal hepatic hemangiomas were single lesions in all 14 cases, and most of them were located in the right lobe of the liver (13/14). Ultrasound images were mainly hypoechoic with heterogeneity, the honeycomb-like or grid-like anechoic regions were presented in 9 lesions and circumferential blood flow was observed with low to moderate blood flow resistance index. MRI findings showed well-defined lesions with low signal intensity on T1WI, and high or slightly high signal intensity on T2WI. Among 14 cases, there were 8 cases of induced labor and 6 cases of continuing pregnancy. In 6 cases of successful delivery, 2 were treated with propranolol, 4 cases were followed-up without treatment. The growth and development of 6 children were normal. The lesions of hepatic hemangioma showed no significant changes in 3 children and were reduced in the other 3 children, of whom the lesion was complete disappeared in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal hepatic hemangiomas present relatively typical imaging characteristics, and prenatal diagnosis can be made with ultrasound and MRI. If there are no complications, the fetus with hepatic hemangioma can be delivered at full term with a good outcome.

Huge fetal hepatic Hemangioma: prenatal diagnosis on ultrasound and prognosis

Background

Although huge fetal hepatic hemangiomas are rare, they can cause fatal complications. The purpose of this study is to describe the imaging features and prognosis of these tumors.

Methods

Imaging data were collected for 6 patients with huge fetal hepatic hemangiomas treated at our hospital. Imaging modalities included prenatal magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound and postnatal color Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT).

Results

Among the 93,562 fetuses of 92,126 pregnant women examined at our hospital, 6 had huge hepatic hemangiomas (incidence rate, 0.64/10,000), as confirmed via postnatal color Doppler imaging and contrast-enhanced CT. Five fetuses had solitary lesions, whereas 1 (fetus 2) had multiple lesions. Four fetuses had lesions in the right liver lobe and 1 had a lesion in the left liver lobe, and 1 (fetus 2) had lesions in both lobes. All lesions showed centripetal enhancement on postnatal contrast-enhanced CT, which was more intense peripherally. Following postnatal treatment with oral propranolol, with or without dexamethasone or interventional therapy with the medical sclerosant pingyangmycin, all lesions decreased in size, with calcification plaques appearing 6 months after treatment.

Conclusions

Huge hepatic hemangiomas have typical ultrasonographic features and can be diagnosed prenatally. Treatment with propranolol, with or without dexamethasone, may result in a favorable prognosis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-017-1635-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

[Radiological evaluation of congenital tumors]

In this article, we consider tumors that are diagnosed during pregnancy or in the first three months of life. This is a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with special biological and epidemiological characteristics that differentiate them from tumors arising in children or adults. In the last two decades, the prenatal detection of congenital tumors has increased due to the generalized use of prenatal sonographic screening. Advances in imaging techniques, especially in fetal magnetic resonance imaging, have enabled improvements in the diagnosis, follow-up, clinical management, and perinatal treatment of these tumors. This image-based review of the most common congenital tumors describes their histologic types, locations, and characteristics on the different imaging techniques used.

Hepatic haemangioma-prenatal imaging findings, complications and perinatal outcome in a case series

BACKGROUND

The clinical presentation of foetal hepatic haemangioma (HH) is highly variable, from asymptomatic to life-threatening.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe foetal hepatic haemangioma and identify prognostic factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Antenatal and postnatal imaging studies, clinical and biological records of infants with antenatally diagnosed HH (2001-2009) were reviewed.

RESULTS

Sixteen foetuses had one focal lesion, with a mean volume of 75 ml (5-240 ml). One had multifocal HH. Most presented as a focal well-delimited heterogeneous vascular mass. Four had associated cardiomegaly, five had cardiac failure. Eight of the nine foetuses with cardiac disorders were symptomatic at birth: cardiac failure with pulmonary hypertension (9), consumptive coagulopathy (8), compartmental syndrome (2). All received supportive medical treatment, four embolisation. Five of these died. The remaining eight had a normal cardiac status. Two became symptomatic after birth: one with a large porto-hepatic shunt and one with significant mass effect. Prenatal cardiac abnormality (univariate, P = 0.031), enlargement of more than one hepatic vein (P = 0.0351) and large volume (P = 0.0372) were associated with symptomatic disease.

CONCLUSION

Hepatic haemangioma associated with prenatal cardiac disorders, large volume and more than one enlarged hepatic vein have poorer outcome and require specific perinatal multidisciplinary management.