Liver mass overview
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Liver mass overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Maria Fernanda Villarreal, M.D. [2]
Overview
Liver mass (also known as "hepatic mass") is generally defined as the neoplastic growth of tissue in the liver. Abnormal growths found in the liver can be benign or malignant. Liver mass may be classified according to imaging features, histopathological origin, size, and distribution. The most common cause of a liver mass is liver cancer. Common causes of benign liver mass include: hepatic hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatic adenoma, idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension (including nodular regenerative hyperplasia, regenerative nodules. Conversely, common causes malignant liver masses, include: hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, metastatic disease. "Primary liver tumors", which originate in the liver or from hepatic-derived cells and tissues, and "secondary tumors" which originate in other sites and metastasize to the liver.
Classification
Liver mass may be classified according to imaging features, histopathological origin, size, and distribution
Causes
The most common cause of a liver mass is hepatocellular carcinoma. Other causes of liver mass, include: hepatic hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatic adenoma, idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, regenerative nodules, cholangiocarcinoma, and metastatic disease.
Differentiating Liver Mass from Other Diseases
Liver mass may be differentiated according to clinical features, laboratory findings, imaging features, histological features, and genetic studies, from other diseases that cause abdominal pain, pruritus, low-grade fever, and ascities. Common differential diagnosis includes: liver abscess, simple liver cyst, and fungal infections.