Ultrasonographic and T2-weighted MR imaging studies on hepatic hemangiomas

We investigated the correlations between ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of hepatic hemangiomas to evaluate their heterogeneous echo patterns; we examined 20 hemangiomas (over 20 mm in maximal size) in 18 asymptomatic patients by US and MR imaging, and investigated the correlations between these images. T1-weighted images indicated 8 of 20 lesions as heterogeneous, T2-weighted images indicated 12 heterogeneous lesions, and US indicated 19 heterogeneous lesions. The internal pattern was consistent in US and T2-weighted images in 6 lesions, and inconsistent in 6 lesions. US revealed a heterogeneous pattern in 7 lesions in which T2-weighted images revealed a homogeneous pattern. Both US and T2-weighted images revealed a homogeneous pattern in one lesion. US findings of heterogeneous hepatic hemangioma reflect, to some extent, their histological changes based on MR morphology. In the near future, utilization of US equipment will probably permit the sonographic morphology of the heterogeneous hepatic hemangioma to be clarified. (author)