Liver tumors in children and young patients: sonographic and color Dopplerfindings

Background: Liver tumors are a relatively rare pathologic condition in chil dren and young patients. The aim of the present study was to categorize the sonographic (US) and color Doppler results of liver tumors in these patien ts. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the US findings of 23 such cases: mali gnant tumor (13 cases)-hepatoblastoma (four cases), hepatocellular carcinom a (HCC, four cases), and hepatic metastasis (five cases); benign tumor (10 cases)-hepatocellular adenoma (four cases), focal nodular hyperplasia (two cases), mesenchymal hamartoma (two cases), cystadenoma tone case), and hema ngioendothelioma tone case). Results: There was no specific US findings for each tumor type. HCC usually developed on a normal liver and was imaged as multiple nodules. Color Dopp ler US helped in differentiating multiple metastatic nodules (hypovascular) from multiple HCC nodules (hypervascular). Presence of intratumoral cystic areas was usually suggestive of benign tumors. Follow-up US was useful for detecting small nodules in high-risk groups (congenital biliary atresia, g lycogen storage disease). Color Doppler US helped in diagnosing portal thro mbus or intratumoral shunt. Conclusion: Although there were no highly specific findings, US and color D oppler results contributed, to a certain degree, to the diagnosis of liver tumors in children and young adults by showing intratumoral cystic areas or vascularity.