INTRAHEPATIC CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA - FINDINGS ON SPIRAL CT DURING ARTERIAL PORTOGRAPHY

To attempt to determine the characteristic imaging features of intrahe patic cholangiocarcinoma on spiral CT during arterial portography (CTA P), spiral CTAP examinations of 17 patients with pathologically confir med intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed in consensus by thre e radiologists. The diameter of the tumors ranged from 1 to 12 cm (mea n diameter, 6.6 cm). All tumors (100%) were hypoattenuating masses on spiral CTAP. In 11 cases, the tumor was homogeneous in attenuation (65 %). Tumor margins were smooth and regular in 11 cases (65%). Vascular invasion was found in 14 cases (82%). Intrahepatic bile duct dilatatio n was present in seven cases (41%). This review shows that intrahepati c cholangiocarcinoma is associated with a constellation of findings on spiral CTAP. The presence of a low attenuation homogeneous intrahepat ic mass with vascular invasion and intrahepatic bile duct dilatation o n spiral CTAP images should raise the possibility of intrahepatic chol angiocarcinoma. However, these findings can be associated with other t ypes of primary and secondary malignant hepatic tumors.