METHODS: Imaging findings and preoperative diagnosis of CT and CEUS were retrospectively compared head to head in 46 patients with 54 histologically proven HAMLs. Correlations between imaging features and preoperative diagnosis with pathological types of HAMLs were analyzed.
RESULTS: Fat was detected in 100% of lipomatous type, 84.6% of mixed type, and 7.1% of myomatous type (p = 0.000) of HAML at unenhanced CT. Well-defined hyper-echogenicity was displayed in 100% of lipomatous type, 88.5% of mixed type, 50% of myomatous type, and 66.7% of angiomatous type of HAMLs at unenhanced US. More arterial hyper-enhancement was noted on CEUS (100%) than on CT (73.1%) in mixed type (p = 0.015) and in lipomatous type (90.9% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.000) of HAMLs. Washout was present in more HAMLs on CT than on CEUS (42.6% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.007). Correct preoperative diagnosis was suggested in more HAMLs of myomatous type on CEUS than on CT (42.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.016) but showed no difference in other types of HAMLs.
CONCLUSIONS: There are considerable discrepancies between CT and CEUS findings of HAMLs, and the imaging appearance and preoperative diagnosis of HAMLs on CT and CEUS are significantly affected by pathological types of HAMLs.