A rare case of peliosis hepatis in a patient with chronic renal failure and renal cell carcinoma

Spontaneous Hepatic Rupture in the Setting of Peliosis Hepatis and End-Stage Renal Disease

Rare and sometimes fatal, spontaneous hepatic rupture (SHR) is frequently documented in conjunction with various benign and malignant hepatic tumors, peliosis hepatis (PH), amyloidosis, and polyarteritis nodosa. PH is a rare disease characterized by the presence of sinusoidal dilation and blood-filled cysts throughout the hepatic parenchyma. Handling and identifying this condition can be challenging, particularly in the absence of a history of liver cirrhosis or a tumor. The present case involves a 61-year-old male with a SHR and PH, accompanied by a significant history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) over the past year. The patient presented to the emergency department with a three-week history of right flank pain. Hemoglobin levels were found to be low; the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was progressively decreasing. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a rupture of the right liver capsule, hemoperitoneum, PH, and an edematous gall bladder. The current case illustrates the diagnosis and management of PH and hemoperitoneum. This case emphasizes the challenging diagnosis of this potentially fatal liver complication in an outwardly healthy male, highlighting the connection between PH and ESRD.

MRI of Peliosis Hepatis: A Case Series Presentation With a 2022 Systematic Literature Update

BACKGROUND

Peliosis hepatis (PH) is a rare benign condition, characterized by hepatic sinusoidal dilatation and blood-filled cystic cavities, often found incidentally, with still challenging diagnosis by imaging due to polymorphic appearance.

PURPOSE

Based on a retrospective analysis of our series (12 patients) and systematic literature review (1990-2022), to organize data about PH and identify features to improve characterization.

STUDY TYPE

Retrospective case series and systematic review.

POPULATION

Twelve patients (mean age 48 years, 55% female) with pathology-proven PH and 49 patients (mean age 52 years, 67% female) identified in 33 studies from the literature (1990-2022).

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

1,5-T; T1-weighted (T1W), T2-weighted (T2W), diffusion-weighted (DW), contrast-enhanced (CE) T1W imaging.

ASSESSMENT

We compared our series and literature data in terms of demographic (gender/age/ethnicity), clinical characteristics (symptoms/physical examination/liver test), associated conditions (malignancies/infectious/hematologic/genetic or chronic disorders/drugs or toxic exposure) percentage. On magnetic resonance imaging lesion numbers/shape/mean maximum diameter/location/mass effect/signal intensity were compared. PH pathological type/proposed imaging diagnosis/patient follow-up were also considered.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports/Series quality assessment. Intraclass correlation and Cohen's kappa coefficients for levels of inter/intrareader agreement in our experience.

RESULTS

Patients were mainly asymptomatic (92% vs. 70% in our study and literature) with associated conditions (83% vs. 80%). Lesions showed homogeneous T1W-hypointensity (58% vs. 65%) and T2W-hyperintensity (58% vs. 66%). Heterogeneous nonspecific (25% vs. 51%), centrifugal (34% vs. 8%), or rim-like centripetal (25% vs. 23%) patterns of enhancement were most frequent, with hypointensity on the hepatobiliary phase (HBP), without restricted diffusivity. Good inter- and intrareader agreement was observed in our experience. Concerning JBI Checklist, 19 out of 31 case reports met at least 7 out of 8 criteria, whereas 2 case series fulfilled 5 and 6 out of 10 items respectively.

DATA CONCLUSION

A homogeneous, not well-demarcated T1W-hypointense and T2W-hyperintense mass, with heterogeneous nonspecific or rim-like centripetal or centrifugal pattern of enhancement, and hypointensity on HBP, may be helpful for PH diagnosis. Among associated conditions, malignancies and drug exposures were the most frequent.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.