To summarize the computed tomography (CT) features of infantile hepatic hemangioendotheliomas (IHH), analyze the difference of CT expression in different diameters of tumors, and to understand the influence of tumor diameter on CT.

The CT findings of twenty two IHH cases proved pathologically were retrospectively analyzed. The distribution, number, size, imaging appearance and enhancement pattern of the tumors were evaluated, to analyze the difference of CT expression in tumors with different diameters.

A total of 306 IHH lesions were detected on CT in 22 cases. CT scan showed 302 lesions (98.7%) were uniformly low density, calcification and hemorrhage were seen in the 4 lesions (1.3%). In CT enhanced arterial phase, 158 lesions (51.6%) showed ring enhancement edge, 148 lesions (48.4%) showed homogeneous enhancement around the tumor, 102 lesions (33.3%) showed fibrous cord like enhancement, 88 lesions (28.8%) showed nodular enhancement. In arterial phase, the tumor diameter <1.0 cm, all lesions showed homogeneous enhancement; lesions showed mixed enhancement pattern when tumor diameter was 1.0-2.0 cm; lesions showed with the edge ring enhancement for 98.2% (108/110) when tumor diameter was >2.0 cm. In the portal vein stage, all the lesions showed enhancement. In the delayed period, most lesions showed whole tumor enhancement (284/306, 92.8%), with statistically significant differences between the groups (χ²=330.56, P<0.001).

The CT expression of IHH has some characteristics, and the diameter of the tumor has some influence on the performance of CT.