NONTUMOROUS HEPATIC PSEUDOLESION AROUND THE FALCIFORM LIGAMENT - PREVALENCE ON GADOLINIUM CHELATE-ENHANCED MR EXAMINATION

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of nontumorou s hepatic pseudolesions seen around the falciform ligament on dynamic spoiled three-dimensional (3D) gradient-recalled echo (GRE) MR imaging obtained during IV injection of a gadolinium chelate. SUBJECTS AND ME THODS. The gadolinium chelate-enhanced spoiled 3D CRE examinations of the liver of 103 patients were prospectively analyzed by two readers f or the presence of a nontumorous hepatic pseudolesion around the falci form ligament to determine the prevalence of this finding. For all pse udolesions, pathologic examination or follow-up imaging studies exclud ed true tumors. RESULTS. A total of 15 nontumorous hepatic pseudolesio ns were found on 13 (13%) of 103 examinations. The size of pseudolesio ns ranged from 5 to 15 mm (mean, 9 mm). Twelve pseudolesions were loca ted in segment IV, and three were in segment III. On two MR examinatio ns, two pseudolesions (one in segment IV and one in segment III) were found. Fourteen (93%) of 15 pseudolesions were seen during the arteria l phase of the bolus injection. All pseudolesions (100%) were seen dur ing the portal phase, and one pseudolesion (7%) remained visible durin g the equilibrium phase. The presence of true rumors was excluded in o ne case by pathologic examination and in twelve cases by follow-up ima ging examinations.CONCLUSION. Nontumorous hepatic pseudolesions around the falciform ligament are not rarely seen on gadolinium chelate-enha nced spoiled 3D GRE examinations. Thus, recognition of these pseudoles ions is crucial because they may be misinterpreted as true tumors.