Common hepatic artery aneurysm detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging

Abstract

Hepatic artery aneurysm (HAA) is a rare, yet clinically important, condition. While the causes of HAA are poorly understood, it is estimated that mortality following spontaneous rupture is as high as 40%. We discuss the case of a 77-year-old man who presented to our hospital due to a 10 mm pulmonary lesion in the left lower lung lobe, which was identified by a computed tomography scan of the lung at another institution. An examination with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography was performed in our department, but no significant uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose was found in the lung, and HAA was diagnosed only incidentally. A magnetic resonance imaging angiography supported the differential diagnosis of HAA, and the aneurysm was confirmed by targeted angiography. It was located in the common hepatic artery and was coiled during an intervention session. HAA accounts for 20% of all visceral aneurysms and, with a poorly understood natural history, is difficult to diagnose clinically, but early detection and treatment of HAA can improve prognosis.