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The sonographic findings observed in four patients with spontaneous rupture of a renal angiomyolipoma and perinephric haemorrhage are presented. In all cases, a hyperechoic renal mass surrounded by a large hypoechoic haematoma was identified. Furthermore, the actual site of rupture of the tumour could be seen in one case as a wedgeshaped hypoechoic structure extending from the periphery to the centre of the mass. CT has been suggested as the method of choice in the assessment o both the presence and extent ofhaemorrhagic complications of angiomyolipomas. However, since such lesions can be demonstrated and identified by ultrasound, which is often used as the first imaging procedure in abdominal complaints, the technique may also prove of value in planning further diagnostic tests and in choosing the appropriate therapeutic approach to these patients.

Hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) are benign tumors, of which the most serious complications are hemorrhage and malignant transformation to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among the various subtypes of HCA, the β-catenin-activated subtype (bHCA) is associated with greatest risk of malignant transformation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool to differentiate benign and malignant hepatic lesions, and preclinical experimental approaches may help to develop a method to identify MRI features associated with bHCA. HCAs are associated with various pathologies, including glycogen storage disease 1a (GSD1a). Here, we utilized a mouse model for GSD1a that develops HCA and HCC, and analyzed the mice in order to distinguish low-risk from high-risk tumors. Animals were scanned by MRI using a hepato-specific contrast agent. The mice were sacrificed after MRI and their lesions were classified using immunohistochemistry. We observed that 45% of the animals developed focal lesions, and MRI identified four different patterns after contrast administration: isointense, hyperintense and hypointense lesions, and lesions with peripheral contrast enhancement. After contrast administration, only bHCA and HCC were hypointense in T1-weighted imaging and mildly hyperintense in T2-weighted imaging. Thus, high-risk adenomas display MRI features clearly distinguishable from those exhibited by low-risk adenomas, indicating that MRI is a reliable method for early diagnosis and classification of HCA, necessary for correct patient management.