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Clinical issue: Cystic liver lesions incorporate a broad heterogeneous group of mostly benign but also malignant abnormalities. The radiological aim is the non-invasive diagnosis with the use of different imaging modalities to determine the type of lesion.Standard radiological methods: The common generally asymptomatic incidental findings of cystic lesions on ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) must be classified on the basis of specific imaging features. Such a differentiation is essential because the clinical consequences and the appropriate therapy can vary depending on the underlying pathology. Due to the morphological overlap of many cystic lesions, conventional radiological methods are often insufficient.Methodical innovations: The huge advances in cross-sectional imaging (multidetector CT, MRI with special sequences and different contrast agents and MR cholangiopancreatography) in combination with the clinical history usually enable a non-invasive diagnosis. Pathognomonic morphological and hemodynamic lesion features, as well as a knowledge of the pathomechanisms, help to differentiate this broad spectrum of entities.Achievements: In this article the different entities of cystic liver lesions, together with the appropriate diagnostic method for detection and distinction and including their strengths and limitations, are demonstrated.Practical recommendations: A well-founded knowledge about the development of various cystic liver lesions and the suitable choice of imaging method facilitate a non-invasive diagnosis.

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) are liver lesions of hepatocellular origin. The FNH is a commonly occurring hepatic lesion whereas HCA is very rare. Non-invasive differentiation between HCA subtypes and atypical FNH may pose a diagnostic challenge as both entities predominantly occur in middle-aged female patients.The conventional imaging modalities include ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Distinguishing FNH from HCA is of great importance clinically as FNH is considered to be a benign lesion and needs no further management. In contrast HCA is considered to be a borderline tumor due to the risk of hemorrhage, growth and even malignant transformation and requires individualized management.The above mentioned radiological procedures usually enable an accurate and certain diagnosis of a typical FNH to be achieved. In cases of atypical FNH, particularly in patients with a clinical history of malignancy, these imaging modalities are insufficient to establish a clear diagnosis. In this scenario, the use of modern hepatobiliary contrast-enhanced MRI will enable a differentiation between FNH and metastasis with a high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, it allows a differentiation of FNH from 90 % of adenoma subtypes.This article describes the histopathological and radiological features of these lesions and explains the advantages and limitations of various imaging modalities used for the diagnosis and differentiation of these entities.The new classification of HCAs according to phenotype and genotype and their imaging features, as well as different enhancement patterns, are described. The correlation between HCA subtypes and their individual management are also discussed.

Radiology has gained an exceptional position in medicine because a correct diagnosis is the most crucial issue in determining an accurate and personalized therapeutic strategy. This has a direct influence not only on the individual patient but also on the socio-economic aspects of healthcare services in terms of shortening the time interval to establish a diagnosis and to avoid risk-associated invasive diagnostic methods or long-term, cost-intensive follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an excellent example of this which due to continuous technological developments and emerging techniques allows a non-invasive diagnosis of the different hepatic diseases. In this article, we illustrate the direct correlation between the recent technical advances in MRI, such as 3.0 T, diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion imaging, spectroscopy, texture analysis and MR elastography and obtaining a confident non-invasive diagnosis of focal and diffuse liver diseases.