HEPATIC INFARCTION SECONDARY TO ARTERIAL INSUFFICIENCY IN NATIVE LIVERS - CT FINDINGS IN 10 PATIENTS

PURPOSE: To describe the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of hepat ic infarcts resulting from arterial insufficiency in native livers. MA TERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and imaging findings in 10 patients (five men, five women; age range, 28-70 years) with 14 hepatic infarcts seen over 3 years, CT scan were analyzed for infarct appearance, vessel patency, and evolution of inf arct pattern over time. RESULTS: Hepatic infarction resulted from hepa tobiliary surgery (n=6), radiologic intervention (n = 3), and celiac o cclusion secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 1). All 14 infarc ts were of low attenuation, peripheral, and wedge-shaped. Occluded art erial vessels were identified in eight patients. Follow-up CT revealed infarct diminution with parenchymal atrophy and scarring (n=5), progr essive liquefaction (n = 2), or both parenchymal atrophy and progressi ve liquefaction (n= 1). CONCLUSION: Sudden interruption of hepatic art erial flow may cause acute native liver infarction. Patients at risk i nclude those with underlying vascular disease who undergo complicated surgical procedures and those undergoing peripheral arterial embolizat ion.