Korean J Hepatol.  2008 Sep;14(3):387-393. 10.3350/kjhep.2008.14.3.387.

Three cases of multiple infarcted regenerative nodules in liver cirrhosis after gastrointestinal hemorrhage

• Kim BS
• Lee CH

• KMID: 1381469
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/kjhep.2008.14.3.387

Abstract

An infarction of regenerative nodules in liver cirrhosis is a rare abnormality characterized by their coagulative necrosis. We presume that ischemic necrosis is induced by a sudden reduction in the portal and arterial blood flows after blood loss or shock. Most patients with infarcted regenerative nodules have experienced previous episodes of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Awareness of the entity of infarcted regenerative nodules and its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of multiple hepatic nodules in liver cirrhosis is important, particularly in patients with an episode of gastrointestinal bleeding. The possible difficulty of differentiating infarcted regenerative nodules in liver cirrhosis from hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma by initial imaging findings alone means that a liver biopsy and serial imaging might be helpful in the differential diagnosis. We report three cases of multiple infarcted regenerative nodules in liver cirrhosis after gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Keyword

Infarcted regenerative nodules; Liver Cirrhosis; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

MeSH Terms

Adult
Diagnosis, Differential
Esophageal and Gastric Varices/*complications/diagnosis
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*complications/diagnosis/etiology
Hepatic Artery
Humans
Infarction/*diagnosis/etiology
Liver/*blood supply/pathology
Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/*radiography
Liver Regeneration/physiology
Male
Middle Aged
Tomography, X-Ray Computed