What is the characteristic imaging appearance of a hepatic hemangioma on MRI?

Prepare for Liver Disease and Tumors Test with tailored flashcards and questions. Get detailed explanations and improve your knowledge. Ace the medical student exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the characteristic imaging appearance of a hepatic hemangioma on MRI?

Hepatic hemangiomas have a characteristic MRI appearance of a very high signal on T2-weighted images due to their slow-flow vascular spaces, and after gadolinium they show peripheral nodular enhancement that gradually fills in toward the center on delayed phases (centripetal fill-in). This combination—bright T2 signal plus progressive centripetal fill-in after contrast—is classic for benign hemangiomas and helps distinguish them from malignant lesions, which often show rapid arterial enhancement with washout or other non-filling patterns. The other patterns described (early washout, ring enhancement with central necrosis, or no enhancement) align more with hepatocellular carcinoma, abscess, necrotic metastases, or simple cysts, respectively.

Hepatic hemangiomas have a characteristic MRI appearance of a very high signal on T2-weighted images due to their slow-flow vascular spaces, and after gadolinium they show peripheral nodular enhancement that gradually fills in toward the center on delayed phases (centripetal fill-in). This combination—bright T2 signal plus progressive centripetal fill-in after contrast—is classic for benign hemangiomas and helps distinguish them from malignant lesions, which often show rapid arterial enhancement with washout or other non-filling patterns. The other patterns described (early washout, ring enhancement with central necrosis, or no enhancement) align more with hepatocellular carcinoma, abscess, necrotic metastases, or simple cysts, respectively.

More practice questions