Detection of intratumoral vascularity in small hepatocellular carcinoma by coded phase inversion harmonics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced coded phase inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in the depiction of intratumoral vascularity in small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Eighty-five patients with 106 HCCs < or =3 cm in diameter were evaluated with coded harmonic angio (CHA), a coded PIHI, with use of an intravenous contrast medium, Levovist. Intratumoral vessels were detected in the early arterial phase, and tumor parenchymal stain was demonstrated in the late vascular phase. The detectability of intratumoral vascularity on contrast-enhanced CHA was compared with that on dynamic computed tomography (CT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). RESULTS: With a combination of both vessel images and parenchymal flow images demonstrated by contrast-enhanced CHA, 98 of 106 small HCCs were evaluated as being hypervascular or isovascular. Using the results on dynamic CT as a gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 95.1, 100 and 95.3%, respectively. The detection rate of intratumoral vascularity by contrast-enhanced CHA was 92.5% (98/ 106), compared with 97.2% (103/106) on dynamic CT (p = 0.14) and 88.9% (40/45) on DSA (p = 0.53). CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced coded PIHI is a sensitive tool for depicting intratumoral vascularity of small HCC.     

超声造影在肝脏HCC诊断及鉴别诊断中的应用价值

目的:探讨超声造影(CEUS)在肝细胞性肝癌(HCC)诊断和鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法:对58例肝脏局灶性病变进行超声增强造影检查并观察动脉相、门脉相和实质相的动态造影变化,对不同性质的病变的造影特点进行了分析总结。结果:造影结果诊断34例HCC中34例均经病理或AFP证实,33例具有造影剂的快进快出及动脉相均匀性或非均匀性增强的特点。超声造影在HCC中的快进快出即动脉相快速增强,门脉相和实质相快速消退的特点并具有较高诊断敏感性(97%)和特异性(99%)。结论:超声造影在肝脏局灶性异常回声的筛选诊断及鉴别诊断中具有重要的临床意义和应用价值。     

Diagnosis of gallbladder diseases by contrast-enhanced phase-inversion harmonic ultrasonography

We evaluated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(US) for detecting and differentiating gallbladder lesions. Contrast-enhanced coded phase-inversion harmonic US was performed on 90 patients with gallbladder abnormalities. After administering Levovist, we observed the gallbladders in real time. Contrast-enhanced coded phase-inversion harmonic ultrasonography was compared with B-mode US and contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) with regard to the sensitivity and specificity in depicting the elevated gallbladder lesions. Furthermore, we assessed how the vascular patterns of the elevated gallbladder lesions depicted by contrast-enhanced US correlated with the diagnosis. Contrast-enhanced US efficiently discriminated true lesions from biliary sludge, unlike B-mode US. Consequently, contrast-enhanced US was more specific (100%) than B-mode US (81%), although their sensitivities were similar (98% and 96%, respectively). Contrast-enhanced US was also more sensitive that contrast-enhanced CT (98% versus 79%), although the two methods were equally sensitive (100% versus 95%). We classified the vascular patterns of the abnormalities depicted by contrast-enhanced US in the 90 cases into types 1 to 4, which represent branch-like, heterogeneous, homogeneous, and avascular patterns, respectively. All type 1 and 2 lesions were over 10 mm in size while most (88%) type 3 lesions were 10 mm or less in size. While the majority of carcinomas (86%) were type 1 or 2, three benign lesions also showed these patterns. Thus, the vascular pattern may simply reflect the size of the lesion and therefore its usefulness in diagnosing gallbladder lesions may be limited. Nevertheless, contrast-enhanced US is clearly superior to the other techniques in discriminating biliary sludge from other lesions.     

Diagnosis of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma using contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging with enhancement agents (Levovist): Correlation with helical CT and US angiography

We compared contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging with helical CT and US angiography to evaluate vascularity in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging using Levovist (Nihon Schering, Tanabe) as the contrast agent and enhanced helical CT were performed on 38 patients with 45 lesions (29 men and 9 women aged 41 to 83 years; mean age, 66 years; mean maximum tumor diameter, 30.5±23.0 mm), and angiography was performed to evaluate 37 lesions from 32 of these 38 patients (24 men and 8 women, aged 41 to 79 years; mean age, 65 years; mean maximum tumor diameter, 27.9±17.9 mm). Contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging showed hypervascular enhancement in 41 of the 45 lesions; the other 4 lesions were not visualized as hypervascular because 3 of the them could not be detected with non-enhanced US and the remaining lesion was situated deep in the liver and more than 11 cm from the surface of the body. Helical CT showed areas of high attenuation in 40 of the 45 lesions, leaving the other 5 lesions equivocal, while US angiography achieved positive enhancement in 36 of 37 lesions. Intratumoral vessels were visualized with contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging in 25 of the 45 lesions; however; intratumoral vessels were seen in only 4 of the 45 lesions examined with helical CT. In evaluating vascularity in advanced HCC, contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging with Levovist was as effective as US angiography and more effective than helical CT. Motion artifacts produced by the heart make it difficult to evaluate vascularity in advanced HCC located in the left lobe of the liver with Doppler sonography. Contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging can show intratumoral vessels and hypervascular enhancement of the tumor without motion artifacts, however, even when the tumor is located near the heart or large vessels. Contrast-enhanced harmonic gray-scale imaging is useful for evaluating vascularity in advanced HCC when the tumor can be visualized with non-enhanced US.     

Hepatic angiomyolipoma: identification of an efferent vessel as a hepatic vein by contrast-enhanced harmonic sonography

Two cases of hepatic angiomyolipoma were studied by contrast-enhanced harmonic sonography. The special tumor hemodynamics, namely the efferent blood flow of the hepatic angiomyolipoma draining into the hepatic vein, were clearly shown on harmonic imaging, and they corresponded well with those seen on angiography and computed tomography during angiography. Benign hepatic tumors were diagnosed preoperatively in both cases according to the hemodynamic findings. Hepatic angiomyolipoma was finally identified histologically. The special tumor hemodynamics might be one of the important characteristics of hepatic angiomyolipoma. Contrast-enhanced harmonic sonography is useful for the detection of special tumor hemodynamics and may facilitate the differential diagnosis from other hepatic tumors, especially malignant liver tumors.     

Detection of bleeding in injured femoral arteries with contrast-enhanced sonography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of detecting acute arterial bleeding by means of contrast-enhanced sonography. METHODS: Puncture injury was produced transcutaneously with an 18-gauge needle in 26 femoral arteries (13 in the control group and 13 in the contrast-enhanced group) of rabbits. A sonographic contrast agent (Optison; Mallinckrodt Inc, St Louis, MO) was administered intravenously at a dose of 0.06 to 0.07 mL/kg. Sonography of the femoral arteries was performed before and after injury, both before and after injection of Optison, with B-mode imaging, color Doppler imaging, and pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI). RESULTS: The specific location of active bleeding could not be visualized in B-mode and PIHI scans in the control group (no Optison injection). After administration of Optison, the bleeding site was visualized because of the increased echogenicity of the extravasated blood at the puncture site in both B-mode imaging and PIHI. In color Doppler images, bleeding sites were localized successfully in 84.6% of the cases in the presence of Optison and in 30.8% of the cases without Optison. Histologic examination (light microscopy) of the hematoma confirmed the presence of contrast agent microbubbles in the extravascular space surrounding the artery. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced sonography may provide an effective method for detecting arterial bleeding.     

Pancreatic cavernous hemangioma: CT,MRI, US,and angiography characteristics

A large pancreatic cavernous hemangioma was found in a 30-year-old man with abdominal distention. Plain and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography (US), and angiography were performed prior to operation. Contrast-enhanced CT and angiography showed a large poorly enhanced hypovascular tumor at the head of the pancreas. But MRI and US disclosed findings compatible with a cavernous hemangioma.     

Early detection and characterization of hepatocellular carcinoma: value of imaging multistep human hepatocarcinogenesis

The method for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been well established in Japan, by means of regularly screening patients at risk for developing HCC by imaging and serological markers of tumor. The principal screening protocol includes performing ultrasonography (US) every 3 months and testing for tumor markers every month in patients at high risk for HCC. There has been another important issue of accurate characterization of nodular lesions found in cirrhotic liver. This problem has been solved by the development of imaging modalities such as US angiography with intra-arterial injection of CO(2), computed tomography during hepatic arteriography and computed tomography during arterial portography. It is most important to differentiate the typical hemodynamic patterns of a low-grade dysplastic nodule having arterial hypovascularity with portal perfusion preserved from those of HCC characterized by arterial hypervascularity with decreased portal perfusion. At present, these findings are easily obtained by contrast-enhanced phase invasion harmonic imaging, which is a noninvasive US technology.     

Tumor cell proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma, with special reference to ultrasonographic findings and arterial vascularity by US angiography

Introduction  To determine the clinical significance of tumor-cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigated the relationship between tumor-cell proliferation evaluated by Ki-67 labeling index and ultrasonographic findings and degree of arterial vascularity evaluated by US angiography in patients with HCC. Methods  HCC cells from 70 histologically confirmed HCC nodules obtained at biopsy of 64 patients were immunohistochemically studied for Ki-67 labeling index. We compared such corresponding ultrasonographic findings as tumor diameter, halo, and internal echo pattern, and the degree of arterial vascularity on US angiography. Arterial vascularity was then classified into three grades based on the findings of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and US angiography. Results  Nodule diameter greater than 3 cm, presence of halo, or presence of internal echo with a mosaic pattern, alone or in combination, indicated enhanced proliferation of tumor cells. Although enhanced proliferation of tumor cells was seen in nodules with a stron arterial vascularity that could be detected by DSA, proliferation was not enhanced in nodules with a weak arterial vascularity that could be detected only by US angiography. Conclusion  HCC with weak arterial vascularity detectable only by US angiography may show a lower grade of biological malignancy, suggesting that prognosis is improved by early diagnosis and treatment of these lesions.     

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for blunt hepatic trauma: an animal experiment

Objective

The aim of this study was to study the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of active hemorrhage and intraparenchymal lesions in blunt hepatic trauma versus conventional ultrasound (US).

Methods

Twenty heparinized and anesthetized domestic pigs have been created to animal models with blunt hepatic trauma by a special impacting device. Conventional US and CEUS were performed to determine if hepatic traumas were present.

Results

Active hemorrhage, the presence of intraparenchymal lesions, and sonographic pattern were evaluated for conventional US and CEUS, as compared with laparotomy and pathologic findings. Contrast-enhanced US detected active hemorrhage from the injured livers in all cases, but conventional US did not find that in any case. The sensitivity of CEUS and conventional US in diagnosing intraparenchymal lesions of blunt hepatic trauma were 100% and 60%, respectively.

Conclusions

Contrast-enhanced US is more sensitive than conventional US in determining the active hemorrhage and intraparenchymal lesions in blunt hepatic trauma.     

A sub-centimeter HCC with bright loop appearance diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Detection of a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the early stage is critical, as clinical stage influences treatment selection and patient prognosis. Carcinogenetic development of an HCC is a multi-step process, and a differential diagnosis between a dysplastic nodule and a well-differentiated HCC is often difficult. A bright loop appearance is a significant finding that indicates disappearance of fatty deposition in the central area of the nodule during the progression toward HCC, however such a finding is rare in cases of sub-centimeter-sized HCCs. We encountered a case of HCC that developed a bright loop appearance on ultrasound (US) without enlargement approximately 2 years after diagnosis as a dysplastic nodule. Moreover, the hypoechoic area in the center of the nodule showed an HCC pattern in contrast enhanced US with Sonazoid?. Vascularity in the nodule could not be observed on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT or Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. When a change in the intranodular echo pattern is observed in sub-centimeter-sized nodules, examination of intranodular vascularity by contrast-enhanced US is important to evaluate borderline lesions.     

Demonstration of false-negative findings on CT hepatic angiography

False-negative findings on CT angiography (CTA) in two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were demonstrated. CTA images of one patient with an aberrant left hepatic artery branching from the left gastric artery and another patient whose right hepatic artery was occluded owing to an unknown cause failed to demonstrate HCCs. This report suggests one of the diagnostic pitfalls of CTA for diagnosis of liver tumors. Received: 1 August 1995/Accepted: 12 September 1995     

Assessment of the therapeutic response of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: comparison of contrast-enhanced sonography and 3-phase computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced sonography with 3-phase computed tomography (CT) in assessing the therapeutic response of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: Twenty-nine nodular HCCs treated with TACE were examined with contrast-enhanced sonography, 3-phase helical CT, and conventional angiography. Contrast-enhanced sonographic and CT findings were interpreted separately and prospectively for the presence or absence of contrast enhancement in the treated HCCs. Conventional angiography served as the reference standard. RESULTS: Intratumoral enhancement was seen in 19 HCCs (61%) on contrast-enhanced sonography and 12 HCCs (39%) on CT. Enhancement patterns on sonography were blush in 8 (42%), branching in 2 (11%), nodular in 4 (21%), and stippled in 5 (26%). Of the 19 HCCs with intratumoral enhancement on contrast-enhanced sonography, 13 (68%) showed tumor staining on angiography. Of the 12 HCCs without intratumoral enhancement on sonography, 1 (8%) showed tumor staining on angiography. The sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced sonography in depicting flow in HCCs treated with TACE were 93% and 65%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of 3-phase CT were 64% and 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced sonography is a more sensitive imaging method than 3-phase CT in depicting vascularity in HCCs treated with TACE.     

Diagnostic transcranial ultrasound perfusion-imaging at 2.5 MHz does not affect the blood-brain barrier

The purpose was to assess whether standard ultrasound (US) perfusion-imaging by means of contrast-enhanced transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) affects the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in patients with small-vessel disease (SVD). One week after a screening MRI to exclude a preexisting BBB disruption, unilateral TCCS phase inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) was performed in an axial diencephalic plane after intravenous bolus application of 2.5 mL SonoVue (IGEA, Bracco, Italy). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed immediately after US. In five patients, PIHI was performed applying a mean mechanical index (MI) of 0.7 +/- 0.1 for a time period of 2.5 min. MRI was started 12 +/- 2 min after US contrast injection. Comparisons of initial and post-US MRI by four blinded readers did not show any signs of BBB disruption. It is concluded that standard contrast-enhanced US perfusion imaging in patients with SVD did not lead to MRI-detectable BBB changes. This gives further evidence for safety of diagnostic US. Future investigations with larger sample sizes and higher-field MRI might give further insights into potential bioeffects of diagnostic, as well as therapeutic, contrast-enhanced transcranial US.     

超声造影对肝内高回声病变的鉴别诊断价值

目的 探讨超声造影对肝内高回声病变的诊断价值.方法 应用常规超声与超声造影检查66例84个肝内高回声病变.结果 对于鉴别良恶性诊断,经ROC曲线分析,常规超声曲线下面积0.867±0.045,超声造影曲线下面积0.997±0.003,超声造影提高了诊断效能(P＜0.0001).常规超声对病灶类型正确诊断率为64.3%,超声造影正确诊断率为92.9%.结论 超声造影提高了对肝内高回声病变的鉴别诊断水平.     

彩色多普勒超声造影诊断肝脏肿瘤

目的:研究彩色多普勒超声造影(ECDFI)对肝肿瘤内血流的检测能力和诊断准确性。方法:对75个肝内病灶(良性18个,恶性57个)进行ECDFI检查,结果与CT双期增强扫描和病理检查结果(金标准)比较。结果:ECDFI瘤内血流显示率良性组和恶性组分别为78％和96％,CT动脉期增强分别为83％和98％。ECDFI诊断符合率93％。增强CT87％。结论:ECDFI对于提高肝肿瘤血流显示率和诊断符合率有重要意义,其敏感性、特异性与CT较为一致。     

超声造影结合血清甲胎蛋白、磷脂酰肌醇蛋白聚糖3对早期肝硬化结节状小肝癌的诊断价值研究

目的：探讨超声造影(CEUS)结合血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)、磷脂酰肌醇蛋白聚糖3(GPC3)对早期肝硬化结节状小肝癌的诊断价值研究。方法：回顾性分析本院收治的78例早期发现肝硬化合并小结节样病灶患者的临床资料,根据病理结果分为小肝癌组(46例)和良性病变组(32例)。所有患者术前均行超声造影、血清AFP、GPC3水平检测,并比较两组之间各参数的差异,分析三者单独或联合诊断小肝癌的价值。结果：小肝癌组的超声造影特征与良性病变组显著不同(P<0.05),小肝癌组大多呈“快进快出”表现,而良性病变组大多呈“慢进慢出”表现。小肝癌组患者血清AFP、GPC3水平显著高于良性病变组(P<0.05)。超声造影结合血清AFP、GPC3水平联合诊断HCC的准确性、敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值最高(P<0.05)。结论：超声造影结合血清AFP、GPC3有助于提高对早期肝硬化结节状小肝癌的鉴别诊断价值,对临床治疗方案的选择有一定指导意义。     

实时超声造影在肝移植术后门静脉并发症诊断中的应用

目的探讨低机械指数实时超声造影在肝移植术后门静脉并发症诊断中的价值。 方法317例肝移植术后患者进行门静脉彩色多普勒血流显像（CDFI）检查，对其中20例门静脉显像异常的患者，采用造影剂SonoVue和脉冲反向谐波技术进行低机械指数实时超声造影。并与CT血管成像（CTA）结果进行比较。 结果肝移植术后门静脉血栓发生率为2．8％，门静脉狭窄为1．3％。CDFI诊断门静脉血栓与CTA的符合率为61．5％，超声造影为88．9％（P〈0．01）；CDFI诊断门静脉狭窄与CTA的符合率为57．1%，超声造影为100％（P〈0．01）。 结论低机械指数实时超声造影可提高肝移植术后门静脉并发症的诊断能力，其诊断价值与CT血管成像相当。     

Hepatocellular carcinoma: Spectrum of contrast-enhanced gray-scale harmonic sonography findings

Sonography (US) is the most commonly used tool in the assessment of patients with chronic liver disease. Nevertheless, small nodules can be overlooked. Moreover, even if the lesion is readily recognizable, difficulty persists in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from pre-tumoral, dysplastic stages of nodule evolution. In addition, US is the main tool in guiding percutaneous ablation therapies for HCC and in evaluating patients after treatment, but changes are not specific and difficulties persist in recognizing residual tumor during and after the ablation procedure. Contrast-enhanced, gray-scale, harmonic US offers new possibilities in the imaging of liver tumors. The real-time, low-mechanical index technique employed in our institution allows a true dynamic assessment of the tumor during the various phases of contrast medium circulation. This pictorial essay focuses on typical and atypical appearances of HCC when imaged with contrast-specific, real-time US. Findings useful for lesion detection, differential diagnosis, posttreatment assessment, and follow-up especially are illustrated. The potential role of contrast-enhanced US in various clinical settings is emphasized.     

CT增强扫描对肺隔离症诊断价值的探讨

目的探讨CT增强扫描对肺隔离症的诊断价值。方法对19例肺隔离症患者CT增强扫描进行回顾性分析,所有患者均经手术或主动脉造影证实。结果19例肺隔离症中有17例为肺叶内型,2例为肺叶外型,19例患者的病灶均位于两下肺。呈囊性病灶6例,实性病灶5例,囊实性病灶8例,病灶周围有肺气肿11例。其中18例CT显示供血动脉。结论CT增强扫描清晰显示肺隔离症结节或肿块内部的囊实性成分及异常的主动脉供血血管,是无创性评价肺隔离症的首先检查方法。