TY  - JOUR
T1  - Evaluation of the Role of Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis and Characterization of Focal Liver Lesions
AU - Sylviya, C. AU - Babu, Sathish AU - Vinod, S. 
JO  - Research Journal of Medical Sciences
VL  - 19
IS  - 3
SP  - 20
EP  - 26
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1815-9346
DO  - makrjms.2025.3.20.26
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=makrjms.2025.3.20.26
KW  - Computed tomography
KW  - focal liver lesions
KW  - diagnosis
KW  - enhancement patterns
KW  - hepatocellular carcinoma
KW  - hemangioma
AB  - Focal liver lesions represent a diverse group of abnormalities that can be
either benign or malignant. Accurate diagnosis and characterization are
crucial for determining appropriate management strategies. Computed
tomography (CT) plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of these lesions,
offering detailed imaging that aids in distinguishing between different
lesion types. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of CT in
diagnosing and characterizing focal liver lesions, considering various
demographic, clinical and radiological parameters. This prospective
observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital's
Department of Radiology over a six months period. Fifty patients with
suspected focal liver lesions, identified through clinical examination or
preliminary imaging, were included. CT scans were performed using a
multi‐detector CT scanner with a standardized protocol that included
non‐contrast and contrast‐enhanced phases (arterial, portal venous and
delayed). Data on demographics, clinical presentation and CT findings,
including lesion number, type, location and enhancement patterns, were
collected and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to present the
findings. The study cohort consisted of 28 males and 22 females, with the
majority of cases occurring in the 41‐50 age group. Abdominal pain was
the most common presenting symptom, observed in 92% of patients.
Lesions were most frequently located in both liver lobes (42%) and
multiple lesions were more common (54%) than solitary ones. The most
prevalent lesions were hemangiomas and metastases (20% each),
followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (16%). CT enhancement patterns
varied by lesion type, with hemangiomas showing peripheral nodular
enhancement and hepatocellular carcinomas demonstrating arterial
hyper enhancement with washout. CT is highly effective in diagnosing and
characterizing focal liver lesions, providing detailed information on lesion
type, distribution and enhancement patterns. This facilitates accurate
diagnosis and aids in guiding clinical management, highlighting the
importance of CT in the comprehensive evaluation of liver pathology.
ER  -