Diagnostic imaging of hepatic hemangiomas

The diagnostic advantages of ultrasonography, CT, scintiscanning, angiography, fine-needle aspiration cytology, fine-needle punched biopsy and MRI are explained. In clinical practice, attention should be paid to the way the focus was detected, i.e. whether accidentally or in an oncological patient. In case of hemangioma detected by chance, it is recommended to seek confirmation by way of another modality, most suitably by MRI with T2-weighted SE sequences and long echo. In some cases indicated by very characteristic initial findings, US as a follow-up diagnosis may suffice. For oncological patients however, additional diagnostic evaluation for correct staging and resulting therapy planning is a must, considering also in general application of a broader spectrum of diagnostic methods. (orig./MG) (en)