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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 14, 2021; 27(46): 7894-7908
Published online Dec 14, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i46.7894
Hepatic pseudolesions caused by alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics
Satoshi Kobayashi, Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 9200942, Ishikawa, Japan
ORCID number: Satoshi Kobayashi (0000-0001-7759-399X).
Author contributions: Kobayashi S designed and wrote the manuscript, and collected relevant data and approve the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Satoshi Kobayashi, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 5-11-80, Kodatsuno, Kanazawa 9200942, Ishikawa, Japan. satoshik@staff.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Received: April 19, 2021
Peer-review started: April 19, 2021
First decision: June 23, 2021
Revised: June 23, 2021
Accepted: November 25, 2021
Article in press: November 25, 2021
Published online: December 14, 2021
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Abstract

Hepatic pseudolesion may occur in contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging due to the unique haemodynamic characteristics of the liver. The concept of hepatic arterial buffer response (HABR) has become mainstream for the understanding of the mechanism of the reciprocal effect between hepatic arterial and portal venous flow. And HABR is thought to be significantly related to the occurrence of the abnormal imaging findings on arterial phase of contrast enhanced images, such as hepatic arterial-portal vein shunt and transient hepatic attenuation difference, which mimic hypervascular tumor and may cause clinical problems. Third inflow to the liver also cause hepatic pseudolesion, and some of the cases may show histopathologic change such as focal hyperplasia, focal fatty liver, and focal sparing of fatty liver, and called pseudotumor. To understand these phenomena might be valuable for interpreting the liver imaging findings.

Key Words: Pseudolesion, Focal sparing of fatty liver, Computed tomography, Hepatic blood flow, Hepatic hemodynamics, Hyperplastic change

Core Tip: Understanding the characteristics of hepatic blood flow and the pathophysiology of pseudolesions caused by alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics is important for diagnostic imaging of liver lesions. The concept of hepatic arterial buffer response, a unique mechanism for regulating hepatic blood flow, might be essential for elucidating the pathogenesis of hepatic arterial-portal vein shunting and transient hepatic attenuation difference on dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging of the liver. In addition, some pseudolesions are associated with histopathologic changes such as focal hyperplasia, focal fatty liver, and focal sparing of fatty liver. Understanding these phenomena may aid in interpreting liver imaging findings.



INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related death, and colorectal carcinoma is prone to induce hepatic metastasis. Thus, there is a growing need to develop diagnostic imaging techniques that can properly identify localized malignancies in the liver.

Ultrasound is widely available, making it helpful for screening patients with hepatic mass lesions. However, given its lack of objectivity, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are mainly utilized for closer examination of potentially malignant lesions.

The liver is an organ with a unique blood supply involving two types of inflow vessels: the hepatic artery and portal vein. The differential diagnosis of hepatic masses is made using imaging findings observed in dynamic contrast-enhanced studies, including hepatic arterial phase, portal venous phase, and equilibrium phase images. However, unique hemodynamic characteristics of the liver may lead to the occurrence of pseudolesions on contrast-enhanced images[1].

Radiologically, a pseudolesion is defined as a focal mass-like finding observed only on diagnostic imaging, without any actual histopathological abnormality[1]. Hepatic pseudolesions represent an important imaging challenge because they sometimes present findings similar to those of hepatic malignancy. In addition, some pseudolesions may cause focal parenchymal changes due to localized impairments in blood flow compared to the surrounding hepatic parenchyma, and such pseudolesions are referred to as pseudotumors[2].

Given their importance in the diagnostic imaging of liver lesions, we first introduce the characteristics of hepatic blood flow, following which we describe the mechanisms by which alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics can lead to pseudolesions. Finally, we review hepatic parenchymal changes that occur in the region containing the intrahepatic hemodynamic abnormality.

OVERVIEW OF HEPATIC BLOOD FLOW

The liver is the largest parenchymal organ in the abdomen. It differs from other abdominal parenchymal organs in that there are two types of inflow vessels: the hepatic artery and the portal vein. Total hepatic blood flow is approximately 800-1200 mL/min (approximately 100 mL/min per 100 g liver wet weight). The portal vein supplies 75%-80% of the hepatic blood flow, while the hepatic artery supplies the remaining percentage. Hepatic blood volume is approximately 25-30 mL/100 g liver weight, representing roughly 10%-15% of the total blood volume. The average pressure in the hepatic artery is almost the same as aortic pressure; in contrast, portal vein pressure is approximately 6-10 mmHg in humans, while hepatic venous pressure is approximately 2-4 mmHg[3].

The portal vein collects blood from the splenic, gastric, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric veins and flows into the liver through the hepatic hilum. Portal blood is mostly composed of blood from the gastrointestinal tract, and portal blood flow varies greatly depending on the feeding state. That is, portal blood flow increases after ingestion and decreases during fasting.

Hepatic arterial blood is rich in oxygen, and the peripheral hepatic arterial branches — either directly or after forming a capillary plexus around the bile duct and nourishing the bile duct — flow into sinusoids to supply oxygen to the hepatocytes and other structures.

The ratio of portal to hepatic arterial blood inflow to the liver is approximately 3:1, and the oxygen supply is mainly bestowed by hepatic arteries. Researchers have assumed that there is a complementary interaction between portal blood flow and hepatic arterial blood flow, meaning that hepatic arterial blood flow increases when portal blood flow decreases and that an increase in portal blood flow compensates for a decrease in hepatic arterial blood flow[2].

Several mutual routes of communication connect the hepatic artery and portal vein within the liver, including the trans-sinusoidal route, tumor thrombus-induced transvasal route, transtumoral shunt, transplexal route (peribiliary route), and arterioportal fistula[4,5]. Among these connecting routes, the trans-sinusoidal route may represent the main complementary interaction between portal and hepatic arterial blood flow.

Recent studies have proposed the concept of hepatic arterial buffer response (HABR) for understanding the mechanism underlying the reciprocal effect between hepatic arterial and portal venous flow. As portal blood flow increases or decreases depending on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, the liver has no control over portal blood flow. Therefore, when portal blood flow is reduced, hepatic arterial blood flow is controlled to maintain hepatic blood flow (i.e., the oxygen supply to the liver)[6].

To elaborate, the space of Mall, which surrounds the terminal branches of the portal vein and hepatic artery before they drain into the hepatic sinusoid, constantly secretes adenosine, a vasoactive substance that serves to dilate the hepatic artery. When the normal portal blood flow is abundant, adenosine in the space of Mall is washed away by the influence of portal blood flow and does not dilate the hepatic arteries. However, when portal blood flow decreases, adenosine remains in the space of Mall, dilates the hepatic artery, and increases hepatic arterial flow to compensate for the decrease in portal blood flow to maintain hepatic sinusoidal blood flow. This is called the adenosine wash-out theory[7-9]. This mechanism of hepatic artery dilatation takes place in the hepatic arteriole, the distal part of the intrahepatic hepatic artery within the portal tract. HABR is thought to be significantly related to abnormal imaging findings observed on contrast-enhanced arterial phase images, such as hepatic arterial-portal vein shunting (AP shunting) and transient hepatic attenuation difference (THAD), as described below (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Figure 1 Arterial-portal vein shunt of 40th male. A: Pre contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the liver shows no definite focal liver mass in segment V of the right lobe. B: On arterial phase contrast enhanced CT image, wedge shaped focal enhanced area is observed in peripheral part of segment V of the liver (*). Well opacified portal vein branch is observed within the focal enhanced area (arrow). C: On equilibrium phase of contrast enhanced CT, there are no attenuation differences in the peripheral part of segment V of the liver. Therefore, focal enhanced area observed in arterial phase contrast enhanced CT image is diagnosed as transient hepatic attenuation difference.
DEFINITIONS OF AND IMAGING FINDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH AP SHUNTING AND THAD

Choi et al[4] defined AP shunting as an organic or functional communication between the hepatic arterial branch and the portal venous system, resulting in the redistribution of arterial flow into a focal region of the portal venous flow. When blood flow through the portal vein is diminished or absent, the hepatic artery takes over perfusion of the liver through the AP shunt[4]. When portal vein obstruction occurs, increased hepatic arterial blood flow occurs mainly through the peribiliary plexus[10]. Namely, AP shunting is a consequence of the HABR mechanism.

On dynamic contrast-enhanced images, AP shunting is associated with (1) early enhancement of peripheral portal vein branches before the central portal vein is enhanced; and (2) THAD[4] (Figure 1).

THAD refers to transient, peripheral, wedge-shaped hepatic parenchymal enhancement (usually with a straight margin) that occurs during the hepatic arterial phase of contrast-enhanced imaging[10]. This phenomenon arises because increased arterial flow compensates for decreased portal venous flow and because the inflow of contrast material from a high-pressure arterial blood system into a low-pressure portal branch opacifies the focal area of the liver, while contrast material in the adjacent parenchyma is diluted by the unenhanced portal venous flow[4]. On portal venous phase images, the involved site returns to normal or nearly normal attenuation. Normal vessels pass through the area of THAD, and this finding can aid in differentiating THAD from hypervascular liver tumors such as HCC on contrast-enhanced imaging.

CAUSES OF LOCALIZED INTRAHEPATIC HEMODYNAMIC ALTERATIONS

The ratio of portal blood flow to hepatic artery blood flow is usually considered to be approximately 3:1 within the liver. Local disruption of this ratio leads to focal changes in blood flow on contrast-enhanced CT and MR images. The causes of intrahepatic hemodynamic changes include increased or decreased hepatic arterial blood flow, increased or decreased portal vein blood flow, and decreased hepatic venous blood flow. Anatomical variations can also cause intrahepatic hemodynamic changes.

Increased or decreased flow in regular liver vessels

Causes of increased hepatic arterial blood flow include HABR due to decreased portal blood flow and the presence of congenital or acquired shunt pathways [e.g., hepatic AP shunts), hepatic arterial–hepatic venous shunts (AV shunts)], hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Figure 2), hepatic trauma, and others[11].

Figure 2
Figure 2 Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia of 70th male. On arterial phase contrast enhanced computed tomography of the liver, there are multiple pathy attenuated areas throughout the liver. Which are multiple transient hepatic attenuation difference caused by multiple arterial-portal venous shunts in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Physiological causes of increased portal blood flow include diurnal variations that occur with food intake, while pathological causes include "small-for-size grafts" at liver transplantation.

Causes of reduced portal blood flow include extrahepatic portal obstruction (Figure 3), portal vein thrombosis, portal vein tumor thrombus (Figure 4), agenesis of the portal vein (congenital porto-systemic shunt), patent ductus venosus, and porto-sinusoidal vascular disease (formerly known as idiopathic portal hypertension). In addition, blood flow from the portal vein to hepatic sinusoids is reduced in patients with liver cirrhosis exhibiting porto-systemic shunting.

Figure 3
Figure 3 Extrahepatic portal obstruction of 30th female. A: Pre contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the liver shows no definite focal liver lesion. B: On arterial phase contrast enhanced CT of the liver, there are multiple pathy attenuated areas in the subcapsular peripheral portion of the liver (arrow). C: On equilibrium phase contrast enhanced CT of the liver, there are no attenuation differences in the peripheral part of the liver.
Figure 4
Figure 4 Portal vein tumor thrombus of gastric cancer in 70th male. A: Pre contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the liver shows no definite focal liver lesion. Wall thickening on the lesser curvature side of the stomach caused by gastric cancer is observed (*). B: On arterial phase contrast enhanced CT image, focal segmental enhanced area is observed in the right lobe of the liver (*). There is hypovascular tumor thrombus within the right portal vein (arrow). C: On equilibrium phase contrast enhanced CT of the liver, there are no attenuation differences in the liver.

Causes of decreased hepatic venous blood flow include Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) (Figure 5), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) (Figure 6), hepatic vein thrombosis, and hepatic vein tumor thrombus. Secondary to these lesions, the liver exhibits a state of hepatic congestion. Increased hepatic venous pressure leading to decreased hepatic venous blood flow may also occur in patients with congestive heart failure and those who have undergone the Fontan procedure.

Figure 5
Figure 5 Acute Budd-Chiari syndrome of 20th female. A: Pre contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the liver shows no definite focal liver lesion in the liver. B: On portal phase contrast enhanced CT image, Irregular reticular hypo-enhancement is observed in the liver, which is caused by congestive change induced by hepatic outflow obstruction of Budd-Chiari syndrome. C: On equilibrium phase contrast enhanced CT of the liver, although intrahepatic parenchymal attenuation differences of the liver in the left lobe of the liver have disappeared, minimal attenuation differences are still observed in the right lobe of the liver.
Figure 6
Figure 6 Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after umbilical cord blood transplantation to acute myelocytic leukemia in 60th male. Portal phase image of contrast enhanced computed tomography shows irregular reticular hypodensity which are caused by hepatic congestion caused by sinusoidal portal flow disturbance.

Localized portal hypoperfusion and the associated focal increases in hepatic arterial blood flow due to HABR are associated with THAD and the presence of hyper-vascularized pseudolesions on contrast-enhanced images due to increased inflow of contrast medium into the sinusoids during the arterial phase[12,13] (Figures 1-4). In contrast, when hepatic venous blood flow is decreased due to obstruction of hepatic venous outflow, blood drainage from the sinusoids toward the inferior vena cava is stagnant, and the sinusoidal pressure increases. This results in a decrease in the inflow of low-pressure portal blood into the sinusoids and an increase in the inflow of hepatic arterial blood, which causes reticular heterogeneous staining on arterial and portal phase contrast-enhanced images (Figures 5 and 6). This type of contrast-enhanced imaging finding is usually observed in patients with congestive liver, which occurs secondary to congestive heart failure, BCS, and SOS. Thus, when arterial phase contrast-enhanced images show THAD or reticular staining of the liver parenchyma, the presence of intrahepatic hemodynamic abnormalities can be inferred.

In addition to focal alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics, anatomical variations in the portal venous system and other characteristic anatomical features of the vessel surrounding the liver can cause focal hemodynamic changes in several specific portions of the liver[14].

Third inflow

The parabiliary venous system, epigastric–paraumbilical venous system, and cholecystic vein directly enter the liver independently of the portal venous system. These vessels are called the “third inflow,” referring to the third hepatofugal flow after the hepatic arterial and portal vein systems[15].

Parabiliary venous system

The parabiliary system, termed the pancreatico-pyloro-duodenal vein, collects venous blood from the pancreatic head, stomach, and duodenum and usually joins the main portal vein outside the liver before flowing into the liver. However, in some cases, the pancreatico-pyloro-duodenal vein does not connect to the main portal vein before it enters the liver, instead directly entering the liver and perfusing the hepatic sinusoids at the posterior aspect of segment IV without fusion to the main portal vein. As this venous system includes the right gastric vein, this anatomical variation is sometimes referred to as “aberrant right gastric vein”[17]. The incident of aberrant right gastric vein varies from 1.5% to 49%[16-18], while the incidence of aberrant left gastric vein varies from 0.8% to 4%[18,19].

Although most aberrant gastric veins enter the liver and perfuse the hepatic sinusoids at the posterior aspect of segment IV (Figure 7), some may enter the liver and perfuse the liver parenchyma at the posterior edge of segment II or III[20] (Figure 8).

Figure 7
Figure 7 Hypervascular pseudolesion observed in posterior aspect of segment IV (50th male). A: On portal phase image of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with Gadolinium based contrast agent, focal hyper-attenuation area is observed in posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver (*). Tiny vascular branch is directly entering the area at hepatic hilum, which is an aberrant right gastric vein directly entering to the liver (arrow). B: On coronal reconstruction of portal phase image of contrast enhanced computed tomography, aberrant right gastric vein directly enters the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver without fusion to the main portal vein (arrows).
Figure 8
Figure 8 Hypervascular pseudolesion observed in posterior aspect of segment II (40th female). A-C: On arterial phase images of contrast enhanced computed tomography, tiny focal hyper-attenuation area is observed in posterior aspect of segment II of the liver (*). Tiny vascular branch is directly entering the area from outside of the liver, which is an aberrant left gastric vein directly entering to the liver (arrows).
Epigastric–paraumbilical venous system

The paraumbilical vein is divided into the vein of Burow, superior vein of Sappey, and inferior vein of Sappey[21]. Among them, under conditions of portal hypertension, the inferior vein of Sappey is often dilated and forms a porto-systemic collateral pathway connected with the portal system in the anterolateral part of segment IV adjacent to the falciform ligament and epigastric veins.

When superior vena cava obstruction occurs, hyperenhancement of segment IV (i.e., quadrate lobe hot-spot sign) can be observed on contrast-enhanced CT/MR images[22] (Figure 9). This phenomenon is the result of the inferior vein of Sappey acting as the hepatopetal collateral route.

Figure 9
Figure 9 Hypovascular pseudolesion in the drainage area of the vein of Sappey (70th female). On arterial phase contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) image, focal hypoattenuation area is observed in anterior portion of segment IV of the liver adjacent to the falciform ligament, which is not detected on both pre-contrast CT and equilibrium phase contrast enhanced CT (images are not shown). This is hypovascular pseudolesion in the drainage area of the vein of Sappey.
Cholecystic veins

The blood supply and drainage of the gallbladder are also related to the occurrence of focal hepatic hemodynamic changes. Arterial supply of the gallbladder is provided by the hepatic artery (mainly the right hepatic artery[23]), and the cholecystic vein drains into the liver sinusoids surrounding the gallbladder usually after being connected to the peripheral branch of the intrahepatic portal vein. In detail, cholecystic venous blood most frequently enters the peripheral portal branches of liver segments V (96%) and IV (93%)[23]. As the cholecystic venous blood originates from the hepatic artery, the concentration of nutrients and humoral factors such as hormones, which flow into the hepatic sinusoids of the cholecystic venous drainage area, differs from that in other hepatic sinusoids into which the portal venous blood flows. Such differences in the composition of influx blood between the cholecystic venous drainage area and the rest of the liver can cause focal differences in contrast-enhanced imaging and histopathological findings (Figure 10).

Figure 10
Figure 10  Hypervascular pseudolesion in cholecystic venous drainage area (50th male). A-D: On sequential images of arterial phase contrast enhanced computed tomography, round hyper-attenuation area is observed in segment V of the liver adjacent to the gallbladder (*). Tiny enhanced vessel is directly entered to the enhanced liver area from the gallbladder wall (arrows), which is cholecystic venous drainage to the liver and hypervascular pseudolesion in cholecystic venous drainage area.
FOCAL PARENCHYMAL CHANGES IN THE LIVER DUE TO HEMODYNAMIC ALTERATIONS

Focal alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics may not only present as pseudolesions on contrast-enhanced images but may also result in histological changes of the liver parenchyma at the site of the blood flow change. There are three major patterns of such histological changes in the liver parenchyma.

Focal hyperplasia

Focal hyperplasia of the liver is observed in patients with cirrhotic liver and may be related to the presence of anomalous portal flow such as aberrant gastric venous drainage. Matsui et al[24] reported that in patients with cirrhotic liver with aberrant gastric venous drainage, 22%-50% of cases are associated with focal hyperplastic changes at the posterior aspect of segment IV, where the aberrant gastric venous drainage is present[24] (Figure 11). Focal hyperplastic changes such as anomalous portal venous drainage in the caudate lobe have also been reported in cases of cirrhotic liver, with the authors surmising that the etiology of such hyperplastic changes is intimately related to the anomalous portal flow[25,26]. Similarly, focal hyperplasia with anomalous portal flow in the caudate lobe has also been reported in a patient without cirrhosis[27].

Figure 11
Figure 11  Focal hyperplastic change in posterior aspect of segment IV (70th male). A: On the portal phase contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) image, focal hyper-attenuation area is observed in the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver (*), which is not detected on both pre-contrast CT and equilibrium phase contrast enhanced CT (images are not shown). This is hypervascular pseudolesion observed in the area of aberrant right gastric venous drainage to the liver. B-E: On sequential images of arterial phase contrast enhanced CT, aberrant right gastric vein directly entering to the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver is well opacified (arrows). F: On hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, slightly hyper-intensity area is observed in the same place of focal hyper-attenuation area observed in the portal phase contrast enhanced CT image (*), which represents focal hyperplasetic change of the liver in aberrant right gastric venous drainage area in the posterior aspect of segment IV.

Researchers have examined the etiology of liver hyperplasia occurring after hepatectomy or portal vein embolization. At present, it is believed that blood flow, shear stress, and adenosine are involved in the development of hyperplasia in the liver[28]. Studies on liver regeneration after hepatectomy or portal vein embolization have also suggested that hyperplasia and atrophy of the liver occur when the liver is unable to compensate for changes in blood flow caused by surgery or portal vein embolization. Several studies support the hypothesis that after portal vein embolization, portal blood flow increases in the unembolized liver lobe, which causes acute portal hypertension. This change leads to increased shear stress and nitric oxide production, which in turn triggers liver regeneration[29-31]. In contrast, decreased intrahepatic shear stress is thought to induce liver atrophy[31]. This mechanism is thought to maintain the ratio between liver mass and blood flow, most likely to ensure maintenance of adequate clearance function[31].

In small-for-size syndrome after liver transplantation, HABR reduces hepatic arterial flow due to excessive portal flow, which leads to decreased oxygen delivery to the liver parenchyma. The lack of adequate oxygen for liver regeneration increases the risk of liver failure. However, normalization of portal pressure and portal blood flow is believed to improve liver regeneration[7]. Thus, the degree of hepatic blood flow, especially portal blood flow, plays a major role in liver regeneration and atrophy.

Ethanol consumption is also involved in liver regeneration and atrophy. Gluud et al[32] observed that the frequency of hyperplastic nodules decreased with higher ethanol intake in patients with cirrhosis, indicating that ethanol consumption may inhibit liver regeneration[32]. Histopathologically, ethanol intake causes damage to the hepatic veins, especially perivenular fibrosis[33]. Impaired hepatic veins lead to decreased outflow of sinusoidal blood, resulting in stasis of blood flow and hepatic congestion, thereby inducing liver atrophy.

Focal hyperplastic changes are observed in the aberrant right gastric venous drainage area in patients with alcoholic cirrhotic liver[24]. One possible explanation for this is the difference in blood ethanol concentrations of the main portal and aberrant right gastric vein. In humans, 20% of ingested ethanol is absorbed through the stomach, while 80% is absorbed through the small intestine[34]. This means that the ethanol concentration in the venous blood of the small intestine is higher than that in the venous blood of the stomach. Normally, both the venous blood from the stomach and small intestine join and form the main portal vein before flowing into the liver, so there is no difference in ethanol concentration in the portal venous blood within the liver. However, in the presence of aberrant right gastric venous drainage, hepatic venous injury is less likely to occur at the drainage area because the ethanol concentration is lower in the gastric vein. In contrast, in the area perfused by the portal flow, hepatic venous injury is more likely to occur as the blood flow of the main portal vein collects the venous flow of the small intestine, which contains higher ethanol concentration.

As a result, most of the liver areas that receive blood flow from the main portal vein exhibit congestion due to hepatic vein injury, while the area supplied by the aberrant right gastric venous drainage exhibits less extensive hepatic vein injury and less severe congestion than the rest of the liver. Hepatic atrophy occurs in areas with severe hepatic congestion, while areas with less hepatic congestion are relatively hyperplastic. This may be why focal hyperplasia occurs in the aberrant right gastric venous drainage area in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Similarly, hepatic venous injury is less likely to occur at the cholecystic venous drainage area surrounding the gallbladder in segments IV and V of the liver due to the relatively low amount of ethanol in the venous blood compared to the rest of the liver. Therefore, focal hyperplastic changes may also occur in this area in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (Figure 12).

Figure 12
Figure 12  Focal hyperplastic change in cholecystic venous drainage area (50th male). A: On T1 weighted opposed-phase magnetic resonance (MR) image, focal hyperintense lesion is observed at segment IV of the liver adjacent to the gallbladder (*). B: The focal lesion shows hypointensity on fat suppressed T2 weighted MR image (*). C: The focal lesion shows hyperintensity on hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (*). These findings observed at segment IV of the liver adjacent to the gallbladder represent focal hyperplastic change of the liver in cholecystic venous drainage area.

The contribution of hepatic venous drainage to liver deformity and atrophy has also been noted in patients with conditions other than alcoholic liver disease. Ozaki et al[35] demonstrated that, because the diameter of the middle hepatic vein is small and venous blood pressure is high compared to that in the other hepatic veins, the middle hepatic venous drainage area tends to exhibit congestive changes. Such changes lead to selective atrophy of the middle hepatic venous drainage area (e.g., segment IV) as well as relative hyperplastic changes in the right and left hepatic venous drainage area[35].

Other factors that may contribute to focal hyperplastic changes in the third inflow area include different concentrations of bile acid in the main portal vein and the third inflow. Previous studies have reported that enterohepatic circulation is involved in liver regeneration[36], and that decrease in bile acid return to the liver triggers hepatocyte proliferation[37]. Because bile acids circulate in the gut–liver axis, the concentration of bile acids in the third inflow is lower than that in the main portal venous flow. Therefore, differences in the concentration of bile acids in the inflow may contribute to the development of focal hyperplasia of the liver parenchyma in the aberrant venous drainage area[38-40].

Localized hepatocellular hyperplastic changes in the normal liver that mimic liver neoplasms on imaging are referred to as focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). Researchers have proposed that the pathogenesis of FNH is related to a disturbance of sinusoidal blood outflow[41-43] or to the presence of abnormal anomalous vessels[44]. These studies indicate that localized alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics play a major role in the pathogenesis of FNH.

In summary, the presence of intrahepatic hemodynamic alterations is essential for the development of focal hyperplastic changes in the liver. Such changes are also influenced by concomitant factors such as differences in the blood concentrations of nutrients, ethanol, hormones, and so on at the site. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanism underlying the development of focal hyperplastic changes in the liver.

Focal fat deposition

Focal fat deposition in the liver is occasionally observed in the anteromedial portion of segment IV (adjacent to the falciform ligament)[45] and in the posterior aspect of segment IV[46] (Figures 13 and 14). Focal fat deposition at the posterior aspect of segment IV is related to the presence of aberrant right gastric venous drainage[47], while that at the anteromedial portion adjacent to the falciform ligament is related to the presence of inferior vein of Sappey drainage[47,48].

Figure 13
Figure 13  Focal fat deposition in posterior aspect of segment IV (50th female). A: On pre-contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT), focal hypodense lesion is observed at the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver (*). B: On arterial phase contrast enhanced CT image, the lesion shows hypodense (*) and an enhanced vascular branch is directly entering the area at hepatic hilum (arrow). C: On three-dimensional reconstructed CT image with contrast enhancement, an aberrant right gastric vein directly drains into the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver without connecting the main portal vein is observed (arrows).
Figure 14
Figure 14  Focal fat deposition in the drainage area of the vein of Sappey (60th female). A: On arterial phase contrast enhanced computed tomography image, focal hypoattenuation area is observed in anterior portion of segment IV of the liver adjacent to the falciform ligament (arrow). B and C: On T1 weighted in-phase and opposed-phase image of the liver, the lesion shows hyperintense on in-phase (B, arrow) and shows hypointense on opposed-phase (C, arrow), which represent focal fat deposition of the liver at the drainage area of inferior vein of Sappey.

Vilgrain et al[49] suggest that differences in the concentration of insulin in the blood entering the liver contribute to focal fat deposition in the liver. As an aberrant right gastric vein may collect venous blood from the head of the pancreas and flow into the posterior aspect of segment IV, the concentration of insulin may in turn be higher in the inflow area of the aberrant right gastric vein than in other areas. This may lead to focal fat deposition in the posterior aspect of segment IV, where aberrant right gastric venous drainage is present.

Focal fat deposition is also observed in the hepatic parenchyma surrounding the metastasis of pancreas islet cell tumors, which produce insulin. The etiology of focal fat deposition in such cases may be the same as that described above[49,50].

Focal sparing of fatty liver

Focal sparing of fatty liver refers to the presence of focal areas exhibiting a relative decrease in the degree of fat deposition in cases of fatty liver. This type of focal sparing represents the opposite of focal fat deposition in terms of steatotic liver changes and is intimately related to alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics. Focal sparing of fatty liver is sometimes observed in the posterior aspect of segment IV (Figure 15) and in the liver parenchyma surrounding the gallbladder in segments IV and V.

Figure 15
Figure 15  Focal spared area of fatty liver in posterior aspect of segment IV (40th female). A: On pre-contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT), a focal hyperdense lesion compared to the background liver parenchyma is observed in posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver (*). Background liver shows decreased density and suggestive of fatty liver and hyperdese area is diagnosed as focal sparing of fatty liver. B: On arterial phase contrast enhanced CT image, an enhanced vascular branch is directly entering the area at hepatic hilum (arrow). C-E: On sequential images of arterial phase contrast enhanced CT, aberrant right gastric vein directly entering to the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver is well opacified (arrows). These findings represent focal spared area of the fatty liver in aberrant right gastric venous drainage area of the liver at the posterior aspect of segment IV of the liver.

Matsui et al[51] reported a strong correlation between the focally spared area at the posterior edge of segment IV in fatty liver and aberrant gastric venous drainage directed to segment IV.

Fatty liver is an abnormality of the liver caused by overnutrition. However, when aberrant right gastric venous flow with a low level of nutrients compared to the main portal vein enters the posterior aspect of segment IV, focal sparing of fatty liver is assumed to occur in the third inflow area. Vilgrain et al[49] reported that if the insulin concentration of the aberrant gastric venous flow is low in patients with fatty liver, the aberrant venous drainage area will exhibit less fat deposition and focal sparing on liver imaging.

The blood supply of the gallbladder is provided by the cholecystic artery originating from the hepatic arterial branches, in which the blood contains enough oxygen but contains fewer nutrients than the portal venous blood. The cholecystic vein drains into the liver parenchyma surrounding the gallbladder. The venous flow that perfuses the liver area surrounding the gallbladder contains less nutrients than other areas of the liver supplied by the portal vein. For this reason, focal sparing of fatty liver occurs in the liver parenchyma surrounding the gallbladder in segments IV and V. This hypothesis is further supported by the finding that the incidence of focal sparing of fatty liver is significantly lower in patients who have undergone cholecystectomy than in those with intact gallbladders[52].

CONCLUSION

In the present review, we discussed the characteristics of hepatic blood flow and pathophysiology of pseudolesions that can occur due to alterations in intrahepatic hemodynamics. Understanding HABR, a unique mechanism for regulating hepatic blood flow, might be essential for elucidating the pathogenesis of AP shunting and THAD on dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging of the liver. In addition, some pseudolesions are associated with histopathologic changes such as focal hyperplasia, focal fatty liver, and focal sparing of fatty liver. Understanding these phenomena may aid in interpreting liver imaging findings.

Footnotes

Provenance and peer review: Invited article; Externally peer reviewed.

Peer-review model: Single blind

Specialty type: Anatomy and morphology

Country/Territory of origin: Japan

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P-Reviewer: Chen Q S-Editor: Gong ZM L-Editor: A P-Editor: Gong ZM

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