Transient hepatic attenuation differences

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 12 Sep 2023

Transient hepatic attenuation differences (THAD) lesions refer to areas of parenchymal enhancement visible during the hepatic artery phase on helical CT. They are thought to be a physiological phenomenon caused by the dual hepatic blood supply. Occasionally, they may be associated with hepatic tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma

Transient hepatic attenuation differences are thought to be due to a localized mismatch in hepatic arterial versus portal venous blood supply, where often there is a relative increase in hepatic arterial supply thereby giving a higher attenuation to the affected region. 

Four pathogenic mechanisms have been described:

  • directly by a siphoning effect (lobar multisegmental shape)

  • portal hypoperfusion (sectorial shape) due to portal branch compression or infiltration

  • thrombosis resulting in a portal branch blockade

  • flow diversion caused by an arterioportal shunt

Compensatory relationships between two liver sources of blood supply so that arterial flow increases when portal flow decreases as a result of communication among the main vessels, sinusoids, and peribiliary venules that open in response to the autonomic nervous system and humoral factors activated by liver demand for oxygen and metabolites.

Differences in hepatic arterial blood flow can be primary or secondary (i.e. compensatory) 4:

May be seen as areas of parenchymal enhancement usually visible only during the hepatic artery phase related to the dual hepatic blood supply.

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