Lymphangitic liver metastasis: radiologic-pathologic correlations.

The imaging findings of lymphangitic metastasis of the liver, including sonography (four cases), CT (four cases), cholangiography (three cases), and angiography (one case) were reviewed and correlated with pathologic findings in four cases. The imaging findings of lymphangitic metastasis of the liver were as follows: enlargement of the portal tracts with marginal obscurity on sonography and CT; narrowing and dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts on cholangiography; and distortion, displacement, and occlusion of the hepatic artery and portal vein on angiography. These findings corresponded to tumor invasion along the portal tracts from the liver hilum to the periphery. Recognition of the enlargement of the portal tracts on sonography and CT is important for the diagnosis of lymphangitic metastasis of the liver.