Imaging of Hepatobiliary Cancer

The liver and biliary tree are common sites of primary and secondary malignancies. MRI followed by CT is the mainstay for the imaging characterization of these malignancies with the dynamically acquired con-trast enhanced phases being the most important for diagnosis. The liver imaging reporting and data system classification provides a useful framework for reporting lesions in patents with underlying cirrhosis or who are at high risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Detection of metastases is improved with the use of liver specific MRI contrast agents and diffusion weighted sequences. Aside from hepatocellular carci-noma, which is often diagnosed noninvasively, other primary hepatobiliary tumors may require biopsy for definite diagnosis, especially when presenting with nonclassic imaging findings. In this review, we examine the imaging findings of common and less common hepatobiliary tumors.& COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

MRI followed by CT is the mainstay for imaging characterization of liver and biliary malignancies, with dynamically acquired contrast enhanced phases being the most important. The liver imaging reporting and data system classification is useful for reporting lesions in patients with cirrhosis or high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. The use of liver specific MRI contrast agents and diffusion weighted sequences improves detection of metastases. Biopsy may be necessary for definite diagnosis of primary hepatobiliary tumors other than hepatocellular carcinoma, especially when presenting with nonclassic imaging findings. This review examines the imaging findings of common and less common hepatobiliary tumors.