Liver mass found on abdominal imaging

The discovery of a liver mass, whether incidentally or during the investigation of a clinical problem, is a relatively common scenario. Common benign entities include hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and hepatic adenoma. The diagnosis of adenoma is significant due to a risk of future hemorrhage or malignant transformation. Malignant conditions include hepatocellular carcinoma-to be suspected in the setting of cirrhosis-as well as cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic tumors. A stepwise approach to the liver mass will usually lead to an accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, the capabilities of modern imaging, although not without some risk of patient harm, permit a non-invasive diagnosis in a substantial percentage of cases.