Magnetic resonance imaging of pediatric liver tumors

Abstract

Liver tumors in children can be benign or malignant. Although several clinical factors are important in the evaluation of these lesions, MRI is particularly important for lesion characterization and tumor staging. In children, use of a hepatobiliary contrast agent is recommended to evaluate a known or suspected liver lesion. In this review, we discuss the most common benign and malignant pediatric liver tumors, including vascular tumors, mesenchymal hamartoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatocellular adenoma, hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma and metastases, with emphasis on relevant clinical information and imaging appearance at MRI using hepatobiliary agents.

Keywords: Children; Gadoxetate disodium; Hepatobiliary contrast agent; Liver; Magnetic resonance imaging; Tumor.