Abstract

Recently, detection of an incidental hepatic tumor has rapidly increased with the introduction of multi-modality imaging techniques. And then, it is very important to determine whether these tumors are malignant or benign lesions. In some cases, differentiation from other hepatic tumors such as focal nodular hyperplasia or hepatic adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma can be extremely difficult, both clinical and radiologic finding. Therefore, it is suggested that combination of multi-modality imaging study than using only a single imaging test. Despite advanced imaging studies such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), contrast enhanced ultrasonography, and positron emission tomography (PET) showed a high sensitivity and specificity, role of liver biopsy is still remained to confirm the diagnosis. The use of liver biopsy in the diagnosis of hypervascular hepatic tumors is controversial. However if the tumors was shown rapid growth tendency and heterogeneous radiological appearance, liver biopsy or surgical resection should be considered to provide final diagnosis and prompt curative treatment. We report a case of a hepatocelluar carcinoma showing similar radiologic characteristics to focal nodular hyperplasia in patients without high risk factors of hepatocelluar carcinoma.

• Keywords: Hepatic tumor;Focal nodular hyperplsasia;Hepatocelluar carcinoma