Hepatic haemosiderosis
Updates to Article Attributes
Hepatic haemosiderosis refers to the deposition of haemosiderin in the liver.
Pathology
Hepatic iron overload can be in the form of 7:
- diffuse
- heterogeneous
- segmental
- focal
- hypersiderosis
- intralesional siderosis
- periportal siderosis.
In the absence of genetic haemochromatosis and systemic haemosiderosis, patients with cirrhosis can accumulate focal iron within regenerative or dysplastic hepatic nodules, commonly referred to as 'siderotic nodules'. Siderotic dysplastic nodules are considered premalignant lesions while siderotic regenerative nodules are a marker for severe viral or alcoholic cirrhosis.
Histology
Siderotic nodules stain strongly with Prussian blue on histological specimens 6
Radiographic features
CT
If there are iron deposits above a certain level, siderotic regenerating nodules may appear as high attenuating nodules on CT or as heterogeneous regions of high-density liver parenchyma 3.
MRI
MRI is more sensitive than CT in demonstrating siderotic regenerating nodules. The detection of siderotic nodules can be improved with the use of GRE pulse sequences with longer TEs 2.
Regenerative siderotic nodules cannot be reliably distinguished from dysplastic siderotic nodules with MR imaging 5.
Reported signal characteristics of hepatic siderotic nodules 2:
- T1: low signal
- STIR: low signal
- gradient echo (GE): low signal
See also
-<p><strong>Hepatic haemosiderosis</strong> refers to the deposition of haemosiderin in the <a href="/articles/liver">liver</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Hepatic iron overload can be in the form of <sup>7</sup></p><ul>- +<p><strong>Hepatic haemosiderosis</strong> refers to the deposition of haemosiderin in the <a href="/articles/liver">liver</a>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Hepatic iron overload can be in the form of <sup>7</sup>:</p><ul>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.