Acute extrahepatic infectious or inflammatory diseases are a cause of transient mosaic pattern on CT and MR imaging related to sinusoidal dilatation of the liver

To report the association of a mosaic enhancement pattern on contrast-enhanced CT or MR imaging and hepatic sinusoidal dilatation (SD) with acute inflammatory conditions affecting extrahepatic organs. From 2007 to 2012, patients with acute inflammatory diseases who underwent contrast-enhanced CT and/or MRI of the liver with a mosaic enhancement pattern were selected. Clinico-biological and other imaging features were collected at diagnosis and during follow-up. Sixteen patients were included (15 women, median age 27 years; range 18–68). Five women (33 %) were receiving oral contraceptives. Acute inflammatory diseases included pyelonephritis (n = 10), pancreatitis (n = 2), pneumonia (n = 1),…