Biopsy Considerations in the Diagnosis of Hepatic Masses

Diagnosis of hepatic masses requires clinical correlation with imaging and pathologic information. In this review we will discuss the differential diagnosis of hepatic masses and present the relevant pathologic and radiologic issues in different clinical situations. We address the challenges in obtaining, handling, and interpreting biopsy of a liver mass.

Abbreviations used in this paper: AASLD, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, CK, cytokeratin, CT, computed tomography, EASL, European Association for the Study of the Liver, FNH, focal nodular hyperplasia, HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma, MRI, magnetic resonance imaging

⁎ Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

‡ Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Address requests for reprints to: Ihab R. Kamel, MD, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Radiology, 601 N Caroline St, Baltimore, Maryland 21287. fax: (410) 614-3896.

PII: S1542-3565(07)00222-4

doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2007.02.028

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