What imaging technique is especially useful for evaluating complex liver lesions?

CT angiography is particularly beneficial for evaluating complex liver lesions due to its ability to provide detailed images of the blood vessels supplying the liver and the lesions themselves. This imaging technique uses contrast material to highlight blood flow, helping to differentiate between various types of liver lesions based on their vascularity. For instance, certain liver tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma or metastases, have distinct vascular characteristics that can be identified more clearly with CT angiography.

In contrast to other imaging modalities, CT angiography offers a rapid acquisition of images and renders a comprehensive view of both the hepatic parenchyma and its vascular supply. This is especially valuable in surgical planning, as it helps to assess whether lesions are resectable and to understand the anatomical relationship between the lesions and major blood vessels. Moreover, it can assist in detecting the presence of collateral circulation, highlighting possible hepatic artery involvement in tumors.

While ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI are all useful in evaluating liver lesions, they do not provide the same level of detail regarding vascular structures and perfusion. Ultrasound is operator-dependent and may struggle with complex lesions. A standard CT scan offers good cross-sectional imaging of the liver but lacks the detailed vascular insight provided by CT angiography. MRI is excellent for