[CT manifestations of liver involvement in children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the computed tomography (CT) manifestations of liver involvement in children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was performed on 9 LCH children with liver involvement confirmed by clinical, laboratory and pathological examinations to investigate the CT manifestations of this condition. These children, including 6 males and 3 females, had undergone both plain CT scan and dual-phase (the arterial and portal venous phases) contrast-enhanced CT scan.

RESULTS

The main CT manifestations included hepatomegaly (8 cases); periportal dendritic hypodense lesions or "periportal halo sign" (7 cases) which were mildly or moderately enhanced in the arterial phase; intrahepatic bile duct dilatation (5 cases); lymphadenopathy in the hepatic hilar or retroperitoneal region (4 cases); and diffuse small hypodense nodules (3 cases), which showed annular enhancement on the contrast-enhanced CT scan.

CONCLUSIONS

CT findings may be helpful in the early diagnosis and treatment of LCH in children.