Appearance of the Hypodense Liver Nodules in Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis during Computed Tomography

• 영문명: Appearance of the Hypodense Liver Nodules in Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis during Computed Tomography: Association with Acute Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
• 발행기관: 조선대학교 의학연구원
• 저자명: Joo Nam Byun Dong Hun Kim Eun Ju Yoon
• 간행물 정보: 『The Medical Journal of Chosun University』제42권 제2호, 44~50쪽, 전체 7쪽
• 주제분류: 의약학 > 기타의약학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2017.06.30

영문 초록

This study was undertaken to evaluate the association between the appearance of hypodense hepatic nodules on dynamic CT images and acute alcoholic hepatitis in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Sixty-two patients (male:female=57:5, mean age=51.4±10.9 years) with alcoholic cirrhosis were included. Patients were divided into 3 groups; group A (nodules, n=23), group B (fatty liver < 40 Hounsfield unit (HU) without nodules, n=18), and group C (control, n=21). Liver nodules in Group A had characteristic low density during pre- and all post-contrast phases versus liver parenchyma and fewer or complete resolution of nodules on follow up CT after alcohol withdrawal. Densities (HU) of nodules and hepatic parenchyma, ascites scores, and laboratory values were analyzed. Mean densities of hepatic parenchyma in groups A and B were significantly lower than in the control group. Serum bilirubin, AST (aspartate transaminase), ALT (alanine transaminase), PT (prothrombin time), and ascites scores were significantly higher in group A than in the other two groups. As numbers of liver nodules increased nodules’ attenuation decreased. Mean serum AST and ALT were higher in patients with many nodules than in patients with few nodules. Hypodense hepatic nodules in alcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis are probably benign nodules resulting from focal steatosis or hepatocellular necrosis rather than metastases.

목차

Introduction

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Discussion

키워드

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis Acute alcoholic hepatitis Pseudotumoral hepatic lesions Computed tomography Alcoholic liver disease