CT demonstration of the spontaneous regression of a hypervascular lesion in cirrhotic liver

Abstract

In patients with liver cirrhosis, arterial phase enhancement of nodular lesions on helical-CT is currently considered to be highly predictive of malignancy. We report the spontaneous regression of a hypervascular hepatic nodule in a patient with liver cirrhosis within 7 months demonstrated by helical-CT follow-up. This suggests that tumor angiogenesis known to be an obligatory step for acquisition of malignant properties could regress, and can be demonstrated by helical CT. Radiologists should be aware that CT detection of a hypervascular nodule in a cirrhotic liver is not always predictive of a malignant outcome. © 2001 International Cancer Imaging Society.