CT-Scan Findings of Hepatic Mass Patients Attending at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Background: CT-scan is a very useful diagnostic tool for the detection of hepatic mass. Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine the CT-scan findings of benign and malignant hepatic mass patients. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study conducted in Radiology and Imaging Department at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh;Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka and Banghabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka with the collaboration of Pathology Department of the same institute for histopathological confirmation. This study was carried out from January 2006 to December 2007 for a period of 2 years. The patients who were clinically suspected of having hepatic mass attended in the Radiology and Imaging Department in the above mentioned institutes were included as study population. All the CT-scan findings were recorded. Result: A total number of 50 patients were enrolled for this study. CT-scan was done among 40 males and 10 females with a mean age of 51.28 years old. Hypodensity was found in 17 (60.7%) and 18 (81.8%) cases in malignant and benign hepatic lesions respectively. Ill-defined margin was detected in 12 (42.9%) and 6 (27.3%) cases respectively. Calcification was present on 11 (39.3%) malignant lesion and 6 (27.3%) benign lesions. Pressure effect on biliary apparatus was found in 11 (39.3%) malignant lesions and 1 (4.5%) benign lesions (p < 0.05). Lymphadenopathy was found in 10 (35.7%) malignant lesions and 1 (4.5%) benign lesions (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, CT-scan findings of malignant and benign hepatic mass show hypodensity with more contrast enhancement in malignant lesions with more calcification in malignant lesion;however, significant difference is detected in pressure effect on biliary apparatus and lymphadenopathy.

Measurement of hepatic functional mass by means of ^(13)C-methacetin and ^(13)C-phenylalanine breath tests in chronic liver disease: Comparison with Child-Pugh score and serum bile acid levels

AIM: To evaluate and compare the clinical usefulness of 13C-phenylalanine and 13C-methacetin breath tests in quantitating functional hepatic mass in patients with chronic liver disease and to further compare these results with those of conventional tests, Child-Pugh score and serum bile acid levels.METHODS: One hundred and forty patients (50 HCV-related chronic hepatitis, 90 liver cirrhosis patients) and 40 matched healthy controls were studied. Both breath test and routine liver test, serum levels of cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid conjugates were evaluated.RESULTS: Methacetin breath test, expressed as 60 min cumulative percent of oxidation, discriminated the hepatic functional capacity not only between controls and liver disease patients, but also between different categories of chronic liver disease patients. Methacetin breath test was correlated with liver function tests and serum bile acids.Furthermore, methacetin breath test, as well as serum bile acids, were highly predictive of Child-Pugh scores. The diagnostic power of phenylalanine breath test was always less than that of methacetin breath test.CONCLUSION: Methacetin breath test represents a safe and accurate diagnostic tool in the evaluation of hepatic functional mass in chronic liver disease patients.

Ovarian growing teratoma syndrome with multiple metastases in the abdominal cavity and liver:A case report

BACKGROUND Growing teratoma syndrome(GTS)is an unusual presentation of an amazing transformation of teratoma from malignant to benign on pathology during or after systemic or intraperitoneal chemotherapy.The definitive pathogenesis is still not fully understood due to the lack of large-sample studies.CASE SUMMARY A 53-year-old woman underwent radical surgery and postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy due to immature teratoma of the right ovary at the age of 28.She remained well during a 25-year follow-up period after surgery.Multiple asymptomatic solid masses were found in the liver on ultrasonography a month ago.Enhanced computed tomography(CT)of the abdomen revealed multiple masses in the abdominal cavity.The largest one was located in the posterior peritoneum next to the sixth segment of the right liver,about 7.9 cm×7.5 cm in size.Three masses were present inside the liver,and one mass was in the right pelvic floor.Multiple lumps in the abdominal cavity were completely removed by surgery.During the operation,multiple space-occupying lesions were seen,ranging in size from 0.5 to 3 cm,and grayish white in color and hard in texture.Ovarian GTS was finally diagnosed based on postoperative pathology.After surgery,she recovered uneventfully.During a 3-year follow-up,the patient remained free of the disease without any recurrence on CT scan.CONCLUSION GTS is a rare phenomenon characterized by conversion of immature teratoma to mature one during or after chemotherapy and presents as growing and metastasizing masses.The pathogenesis of GTS is unclear,and the prognosis is good after surgical resection.