Original Article Lesions of biliary hamartoms can be diagnosed by ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Aims: This study is to compare the value of ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of biliary hamartomas. Methods: From 2003 to 2013, 15 cases of liver biopsies were found to have biliary hamartomas, including 3 cases excluded from this study. The remaining 12 patients were 7 women and 5 men aged from 28 to 66 years (mean age, 53 years). Ultrasonography examinations were performed by two different scanners using 3.5- to 5.0-MHz convex array transducers. Eight patients were ex- amined by plain and contrast CT including 2 cases with Sensation Cardiac 64 and 6 cases with Somatom definition dual source CT. MRI was performed by a 3 T system using an eight-channel phased-array torso coil. Using pathology slides, lesions were classified into class 1 (predominantly solid), class 2 (intermediate, mixed solid and cystic), and class 3 (predominantly cystic). Results: Patients with biliary hamartomas have distributed lesions. Ultrasonography can be used to diagnose biliary hamartomas, with occasional mistakes. CT is effective in the diagnosis of biliary hamartomas. MRI is capable of diagnosing biliary hamartomas. Histopathological examination provides a direct means to classify the degrees of lesions caused by biliary hamartomas. Conclusions: Biliary hamartomas showed characteristic features on imaging findings by ultrasonography, CT, and MRI. Although abdominal ultrasonography could detect suspected biliary hamartomas, the best choice for further diagnosis is MRI examination instead of CT. In addition, follow-up ultrasonography examinations are necessary.