Helical computed tomography has been widely used in the evaluation of the liver parenchyma for clinical and surgical management. The liver is probably the organ for which helical computed tomography examination is best indicated due to hepatic dual blood perfusion and the difference in blood supply between liver tumors and normal parenchyma. However, there are pitfalls in the interpretation of the images that may impair differentiation of true lesions from pseudolesions, particularly for the inexperienced radiologist. These pseudolesions present different shapes, location and characteristics that may mimic parenchymal lesions and their recognition and understanding are essential to avoid misdiagnoses. The aim of this study is to propose a systematic classification of the pseudolesions of the liver using illustrative cases and thus offer alternative means to differentiate these lesions from true parenchymal lesions.
Liver; Helical computed tomography; Pitfalls
