Spontaneous hepatic hemorrhage: clinical and CT findings

Abstract

The clinical records and radiologic findings in six patients with spontaneous (nontraumatic) intrahepatic and subcapsular hemorrhage were reviewed. Four patients had underlying liver lesions (hepatocellular carcinoma and metastasis from B-cell lymphoma in one patient each and hepatic adenoma in two other patients). One patient had intrahepatic hemorrhage associated with hepatic necrosis secondary to organophosphate toxicity. The specific etiology of hemorrhage in the remaining patient proved elusive despite an exhaustive search. Hepatic hemorrhage was diagnosed and followed by CT (six cases), sonography (two cases), and celiac arteriography (three cases). Computed tomography was useful in defining the extent of the hematoma and showing density changes related to the age of the hematoma.