Triple-Phase Multidetector Computed Tomography in Distinguishing Canine Hepatic Lesions

摘要

The goal of this study was to find any associations between the histologic diagnosis and the radiodensity of liver lesions. Thirty-one dogs with focal or multifocal liver lesions undergoing computed tomography examination were included in the study. Computed tomography examinations were performed before and after the application of a contrast medium, and postcontrast images were obtained in three different vascular phases; the arterial, portal, and delayed venous phases. A histological diagnosis was subsequently obtained for all of the dogs. From the results, no significant differences were identified between the benign and malignant liver lesions, nor between the individual histological types of lesions. The conclusion from this study is that triple-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography cannot differentiate between benign and malignant liver lesions. Biopsy and further histological analysis are necessary.