IS IT A HEMANGIOMA

A retrospective study of 92 cases of proven haemangiomas is presented. In this study, we evaluated the degree of confidence of the radiologi st in differentiating haemangioma by ultrasound (US), computed tomogra phy (CT), angiography (AR), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an incidental and an oncologic (high risk) population. The diagnosis of haemangioma was confirmed by surgery, by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and by long follow-up. Maximum lesions were diagnosed with hig h confidence by MRI (88-93 %) and by angiography (85-91 %) in both inc idental and oncologic group. 44 % of the lesions were confidently diag nosed in incidental group as compared to the 11 % of the lesions in on cologic group by ultrasound. Similarily, lesions were diagnosed with m aximum confidence in 76 % in indicental group as compared to 48 % in o ncologic group by dynamic contrast bolus CT. Confidence was also evalu ated according to the size of the lesions but due to the low number of lesions in < 1. 5 cm category, the difference in the confidence level s was not apparent. We conclude that in high risk group, MRI, if avail able, should be directly performed after US. In the incidental finding group, if the lesion has typical features, US follow-up every 6 month s is sufficient.