Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34772340›Full record

ArticleBMC gastroenterology2021

Imaging features of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma mimicking a liver abscess: an analysis of 8 cases.

Manrong Liu, Jiong Chen, Ruisui Huang, Jianning Huang, Lin Li, Yunqian Li, Mi Qin, Wenqi Qin, Haiyang Nong, Ke Ding

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Case Report:Frontiers in medicine · 2026
    Article
  2. Primary Cholangiocarcinoma of the Liver Presenting as a Complicated Hepatic Cyst: A Diagnostic Challenge.The Korean journal of gastroenterology = Taehan Sohwagi Hakhoe chi · 2025
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Manrong Liu *Department of Ultrasound, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Jiong Chen *Department of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Ruisui Huang *Department of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Jianning HuangDepartment of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Lin LiDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Yunqian LiDepartment of Pathology, Guilin Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, 541001, China.
Mi QinDepartment of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Wenqi QinDepartment of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Haiyang NongDepartment of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China.
Ke DingDepartment of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, 530031, China. dingke005@aliyun.com.
Guangxi Medical University · CNGuilin Medical University · CN

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 81560278
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn rare cases, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma can present as a pyogenic liver abscess and are often misdiagnosed. This study aimed to analyze the imaging features of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma mimicking a pyogenic liver abscess.

methodsThe clinical data and imaging results of eight patients with pathologically confirmed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma mimicking a liver abscess were retrospectively collected.

resultsThe mean age was 58 years with a range of 46-68 years. Fever and leukocytosis were present in six patients. All the eight lesions were a single mass. Air-liquid levels were present in two patients. Only one patient showed hepatic lobar atrophy and hepatic capsule retraction. The double target sign of liver abscess was not noticed in the CT/MRI images of all eight patients. The inner wall of the lesion was rough and irregular, with multiple dot/patchy and wall nodule enhancements. The abscess wall and the marginal parenchyma were supplied by the hepatic artery in four patients, and the intralesional arteries were rough and disrupted. Bile duct dilatation was seen adjacent to the lesion. In seven patients, diffusion-weighted images showed irregular patchy restricted diffusion in the marginal parenchyma of the necrotic area in addition to the prominent restricted diffusion in the necrotic area. Two patients with cholangiolithiasis showed patchy slight CT hypodensity, slight T1 hypointensity, slight T2 hyperintensity, and patchy delayed enhancement. Multiple lymph nodes enlargement in the hepatic hilar area and the retroperitoneal space were seen in five patients.

conclusionIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma mimicking a pyogenic liver abscess have unique imaging features and require careful image examination to avoid misdiagnosis.

Indexed as

Bile Duct NeoplasmsCholangiocarcinomaLiver Abscess, PyogenicAgedBile Ducts, IntrahepaticDiagnosis, DifferentialHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesComputed tomographyIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinomaLiver abscessMagnetic resonance imagingUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID34772340
PMCPMC8588691
OpenAlexW3214567721

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.