Liver sarcoidosis with unique MRI images using gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease characterized by the formation of non-caseating granulomas in multiple organs. In the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, imaging modalities such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful; however, there are few reports of MRI imaging using gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB) MRI. A 46-year-old Japanese female with suspected pulmonary sarcoidosis was admitted to our hospital because low-density mottles in the liver were observed incidentally by chest CT. The low-density mottles were not enhanced at the arterial phase or portal phase by abdominal CT and MRI, and decreased uptake was observed in the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB MRI. No hematological disorder was observed except for a slight increase of biliary enzymes. The lesion was diagnosed as liver sarcoidosis by the liver biopsy. Since the patient refused steroid therapy, we prescribed ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). 600mg/day. The serum levels of biliary enzymes were normalized and the abdominal CT findings gradually improved after the initiation of UDCA medication. Gd-EOB MRI showed unique hypointense areas in the liver at the hepatobiliary phase, which might be useful in the diagnosis of liver sarcoidosis.