Clinical Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2005; 11(40): 6354-6359
Published online Oct 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i40.6354
Imaging findings of biliary hamartomas
Rong-Qin Zheng, Bo Zhang, Masatoshi Kudo, Hirokazu Onda, Tatsuo Inoue
Rong-Qin Zheng, Bo Zhang, Department of Ultrasound, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
Masatoshi Kudo, Hirokazu Onda, Tatsuo Inoue, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr Rong-Qin Zheng, Department of Ultrasound, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shipai, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China. ultrasoundzh@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-20-88348792 Fax: +86-20-87536401
Received: February 24, 2005
Revised: April 1, 2005
Accepted: April 2, 2005
Published online: October 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the imaging findings of biliary hamartomas (von Meyenburg complexes, VMCs) and discuss the differential diagnosis with other related diseases.

METHODS: Imaging findings of biliary hamartomas on ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)and hepatobiliary scintigraphy were retrospectively analyzed in six patients.

RESULTS: On ultrasound images, five of the six cases showed multiple small hyper- and hypo-echoic lesions with comet-tail echoes, especially when magnified by US with the usage of zoom function. In all the six cases, multiple tiny hypodense lesions less than 10 mm in diameter were revealed as scattered throughout the liver with no enhancement on CT. These tiny lesions were demonstrated to be hyper- and hypo-intensity on T2- and TI-weighed images, respectively, in three patients who underwent MRI examinations. MRCP was performed in two patients, and clearly showed multiple tiny irregular- and round-shaped hyper-intensity lesions. MRCP and hepatobiliary scintigraphy showed normal appearances of intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts in two and one patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Imaging modalities are useful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of VMCs. A correct diagnosis might be obtained when typical imaging findings are present even without a histological confirmation.

Keywords: Biliary hamartomas; Ultrasonography; CT; MRI; MR cholangiopancreatography