Journal of Clinical Images and Medical Case Reports
ISSN 2766-7820
Clinical Image - Open Access, Volume 5
The cluster sign
Sara Essetti*; Kaoutar Imrani; Chaymae Faraj; Nourrelhouda Bahlouli; Nabil Moatassim Billah; Itimad Nassar
Central Radiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
*Corresponding Author : Sara Essetti
Central Radiology Department, Ibn Sina University Hospital Center, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
Email: [email protected]
Received : May 08, 2024
Accepted : May 24, 2024
Published : May 31, 2024
Archived : www.jcimcr.org
Copyright : © Essetti S (2024).
Citation: Essetti S, Imrani K, Faraj C, Bahlouli N, Billah NM, et al. The cluster sign. J Clin Images Med Case Rep. 2024; 5(5): 3089.
Description
The cluster sign is a radiological finding associated with pyogenic liver abscesses that better appreciated on contrast-enhanced CT and MRI images. It was first described by Jeffrey et al. in 1988 [1].
On CT scan (Figure 1), the cluster sign manifests as a hypoattenuating lesion consisting of smaller aggregating cystic formations, which demonstrate peripheral enhancement on post-contrast imaging. On MRI, the smaller cystic formations cluster together, appearing hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images, with rim enhancement noted on post-gadolinium images.
The main differential diagnoses of the liver cluster sign include cystic metastasis and biliary cystadenocarcinoma.
References
- Jeffrey RB Jr, Tolentino CS, Chang FC, Federle MP (1988) CT of small pyogenic hepatic abscesses: the cluster sign. Am J Roentgenol. 151(3): 487-489.
- Halvorsen RA, Korobkin M, Foster WL, Silverman PM, Thompson WM. The variable CT appearance of hepatic abscesses. Am J Roentgenol. 1984; 142(5): 941-946.