Guest guest Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Just wondering I had an abdominal/liver ultrasound done early December followed by a colonoscopy the next day. A couple of weeks later, I was called by my hepatologist to complete a CT scan (coming up in 2 weeks). It turns out they're looking to clarify whether I have nodules on my liver. Anyone had those? Should I be concerned? Very little of what I've read online about nodules has anything positive to say as it mostly talks about cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 I have cysts – have had for years. Don’t know if that’s the same thing. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of ). It turns out they're looking to clarify whether I have nodules on my liver. Anyone had those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 I have cysts – have had for years. Don’t know if that’s the same thing. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of ). It turns out they're looking to clarify whether I have nodules on my liver. Anyone had those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hi ; In liver cirrhosis, benign nodules can often develop. It is important to distinguish between these non-cancerous nodules and pre-malignant or malignant nodules, which would be more serious. The following article suggests that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be better than CT in distinguishing between them: Radiographics 28: 747-769 (2008) Cirrhosis-associated hepatocellular nodules: correlation of histopathologic and MR imaging features. Hanna RF, Aguirre DA, Kased N, Emery SC, MR, Sirlin CB Department of Radiology, Division of Body Imaging, University of California, San Diego, UCSD Liver Center, 200 W Arbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92103-8756, USA. Cirrhotic livers are characterized by advanced fibrosis and the formation of hepatocellular nodules, which are classified histologically as either (a) regenerative lesions (eg, regenerative nodules, lobar or segmental hyperplasia, focal nodular hyperplasia) or ( dysplastic or neoplastic lesions (eg, dysplastic foci and nodules, hepatocellular carcinomas). The differentiation of these lesions is important because regenerative nodules are benign, whereas dysplastic and neoplastic nodules are premalignant and malignant, respectively. However, their accurate characterization may be difficult even at histopathologic analysis. Differential diagnosis may be facilitated by comparing the clinical and pathologic findings with radiologic imaging features; in particular, nodule size, vascularity, hepatocellular function, and Kupffer cell density assessed at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are suggestive of the correct diagnosis. MR imaging is more useful than computed tomography for such assessments because it provides better soft-tissue contrast and a more nuanced depiction of different tissue properties. Moreover, a wider variety of contrast agents is available for use in MR imaging. Familiarity with the MR imaging characteristics of cirrhosis-associated hepatocellular nodules is therefore important for optimal diagnosis and management of cirrhotic disease. PMID: 18480482. Best regards, Dave (father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03) > I had an abdominal/liver ultrasound done early December followed by a > colonoscopy the next day. A couple of weeks later, I was called by my > hepatologist to complete a CT scan (coming up in 2 weeks). It turns > out they're looking to clarify whether I have nodules on my liver. > Anyone had those? Should I be concerned? Very little of what I've read > online about nodules has anything positive to say as it mostly talks > about cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hi ; In liver cirrhosis, benign nodules can often develop. It is important to distinguish between these non-cancerous nodules and pre-malignant or malignant nodules, which would be more serious. The following article suggests that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be better than CT in distinguishing between them: Radiographics 28: 747-769 (2008) Cirrhosis-associated hepatocellular nodules: correlation of histopathologic and MR imaging features. Hanna RF, Aguirre DA, Kased N, Emery SC, MR, Sirlin CB Department of Radiology, Division of Body Imaging, University of California, San Diego, UCSD Liver Center, 200 W Arbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92103-8756, USA. Cirrhotic livers are characterized by advanced fibrosis and the formation of hepatocellular nodules, which are classified histologically as either (a) regenerative lesions (eg, regenerative nodules, lobar or segmental hyperplasia, focal nodular hyperplasia) or ( dysplastic or neoplastic lesions (eg, dysplastic foci and nodules, hepatocellular carcinomas). The differentiation of these lesions is important because regenerative nodules are benign, whereas dysplastic and neoplastic nodules are premalignant and malignant, respectively. However, their accurate characterization may be difficult even at histopathologic analysis. Differential diagnosis may be facilitated by comparing the clinical and pathologic findings with radiologic imaging features; in particular, nodule size, vascularity, hepatocellular function, and Kupffer cell density assessed at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are suggestive of the correct diagnosis. MR imaging is more useful than computed tomography for such assessments because it provides better soft-tissue contrast and a more nuanced depiction of different tissue properties. Moreover, a wider variety of contrast agents is available for use in MR imaging. Familiarity with the MR imaging characteristics of cirrhosis-associated hepatocellular nodules is therefore important for optimal diagnosis and management of cirrhotic disease. PMID: 18480482. Best regards, Dave (father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03) > I had an abdominal/liver ultrasound done early December followed by a > colonoscopy the next day. A couple of weeks later, I was called by my > hepatologist to complete a CT scan (coming up in 2 weeks). It turns > out they're looking to clarify whether I have nodules on my liver. > Anyone had those? Should I be concerned? Very little of what I've read > online about nodules has anything positive to say as it mostly talks > about cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 15, 2009 Report Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hi ; In liver cirrhosis, benign nodules can often develop. It is important to distinguish between these non-cancerous nodules and pre-malignant or malignant nodules, which would be more serious. The following article suggests that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be better than CT in distinguishing between them: Radiographics 28: 747-769 (2008) Cirrhosis-associated hepatocellular nodules: correlation of histopathologic and MR imaging features. Hanna RF, Aguirre DA, Kased N, Emery SC, MR, Sirlin CB Department of Radiology, Division of Body Imaging, University of California, San Diego, UCSD Liver Center, 200 W Arbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92103-8756, USA. Cirrhotic livers are characterized by advanced fibrosis and the formation of hepatocellular nodules, which are classified histologically as either (a) regenerative lesions (eg, regenerative nodules, lobar or segmental hyperplasia, focal nodular hyperplasia) or ( dysplastic or neoplastic lesions (eg, dysplastic foci and nodules, hepatocellular carcinomas). The differentiation of these lesions is important because regenerative nodules are benign, whereas dysplastic and neoplastic nodules are premalignant and malignant, respectively. However, their accurate characterization may be difficult even at histopathologic analysis. Differential diagnosis may be facilitated by comparing the clinical and pathologic findings with radiologic imaging features; in particular, nodule size, vascularity, hepatocellular function, and Kupffer cell density assessed at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are suggestive of the correct diagnosis. MR imaging is more useful than computed tomography for such assessments because it provides better soft-tissue contrast and a more nuanced depiction of different tissue properties. Moreover, a wider variety of contrast agents is available for use in MR imaging. Familiarity with the MR imaging characteristics of cirrhosis-associated hepatocellular nodules is therefore important for optimal diagnosis and management of cirrhotic disease. PMID: 18480482. Best regards, Dave (father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03) > I had an abdominal/liver ultrasound done early December followed by a > colonoscopy the next day. A couple of weeks later, I was called by my > hepatologist to complete a CT scan (coming up in 2 weeks). It turns > out they're looking to clarify whether I have nodules on my liver. > Anyone had those? Should I be concerned? Very little of what I've read > online about nodules has anything positive to say as it mostly talks > about cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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