Perfusion characteristics of hepatic cavernous hemangioma using intravenous CT angiography (IVCTA).

Thirty-three patients with 35 proven hepatic cavernous hemangiomas (HCH) were studied with intravenous CT angiography (IVCTA). 15 scans were performed during the first 30 s after bolus (6 ml/s) injection of 50 ml iodinated contrast material. Thereafter 2 scans/min were obtained up to 30 min. Three criteria were utilized at IVCTA to make a specific diagnosis of HCH: (1) detection of an intense mural nodular enhancement in the arterial phase. The density in the nodular region(s) should have a density level similar to that of the aorta or hepatic arteries; (2) well-defined nodular area(s); and (3) centripetally oriented enlargement of the nodular region(s). These criteria were seen in 31 of 35 hemangiomas. In contrast the 'typical' Freeny-Marks criteria were present in only 23 of 35 hemangiomas. The results show that our criteria may provide greater specificity.