Focal peliosis hepatis in a colon cancer patient resembling metastatic liver tumor

Peliosis hepatis （PH） is a rare benign condition char- acterized by the presence of multiple, randomly dis- tributed, blood filled cystic areas of variable size within the liver parenchyma. PH is difficult to recognize and may be mistaken for neoplasm, metastases or multiple abscesses. A 75-year-old female with a previous his- tory of colon cancer was admitted when a liver mass in the right liver lobe was found 11 mo after surgery during the follow-up period. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scan of the abdo- men were performed. The initial possible diagnosis was metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient underwent excision of the hepatic segment where the nodule was located. The pathological diagnosis of the surgical specimen was PH. PH should be considered in the differential diagnosis of new liver lesions in patients whose clinical settings do not clearly favor metastasiza- tion. Clinicians and radiologists must recognize these lesions to minimize the probability of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.