Hepatic angiomyoma: CT and MRI findings

Abstract

Angiomyoma is a benign tumor that arises from soft muscular tissue within the blood vessel wall. This lesion has been found in different organs. The preferential location of these tumors is the lower extremity. We describe the rare case of a hepatic angiomyoma and present the radiologic findings of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Posterior Mediastinal Angioleiomyoma

“…In the previous reports, angioleiomyomas imaged by CT usually have well-defined margins and show homogenous or heterogeneous enhancement. 4,5 According to one report, the areas enhanced in early phase CT correspond to large, abundant venouslike blood vessels, and the areas enhancing gradually correspond to smooth muscle, fibrous tissue, and small, or minute blood vessels. 5 In our case, we did not examine the relationship between pathologic findings and enhancing pattern.…”

Symptomatic Posterior Mediastinal Angioleiomyoma

“…Almost 90% of such tumors are subcutaneous or appear as skin nodules in the extremities, and 70% of extremity angioleiomyomas occur in the lower extremities.1 According to Duhig, 40% of angioleiomyomas appeared in married women between the age of 30 - 60 years 1. Angioleiomyomas developing in organs other than the skin including the liver and kidney have been reported but they are rare 2,3. Mediastinal angioleiomyoma is very rare, and only 3 cases have been reported to the best of our knowledge 4-6.…”

Leiomyomatous Tumors of the Hepatobiliary Tract

“…A smooth muscle cell lineage is rarely involved in vascular tumors of the liver (see above), and one such lesions has been termed hepatic angiomyoma (Beissert et al 2002). In an autopsy case, multiple hepatic benign smooth muscle cell tumors had been observed together with lesions representing cavernous hemangioma, and these composite tumors have been termed leiomyomatous hemangiomas of the liver (Key and Rao 1986).…”