Liver metastases from colon cancer with intra-bile duct tumor growth: radiologic features.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to characterize the radiologic features of liver metastases from colon cancer with intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) dilatation.

METHOD: Radiologic findings of liver metastases from colon cancer with IHBD dilatation of four patients were compared with pathologic findings.

RESULTS

The cause of bile duct dilatation in all cases was due to papillary tumor growth in the bile duct. In two patients, intra-bile duct tumor growth (IBDTG) was observed on imaging. In the other two patients, IBDTG was not observed, but a nontapered abrupt obstruction of a dilated bile duct was seen, corresponding to the microscopically proven papillary tumor growth in the ductal lumen. In three patients who underwent an extensive hepatic resection, there has been no recurrence. In one patient who had a nonanatomic limited resection, a recurrence was seen 1 year after surgery.

CONCLUSION

When liver tumor with IBDTG is suspected on imaging, liver metastases should be considered in the differential diagnosis besides hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocellular carcinoma. Careful preoperative assessment for IBDTG by imaging is essential to determine the extent of surgical resection.