超声造影诊断肾脏占位性病变的临床研究

目的:探讨超声造影在肾脏占位性病变中的临床应用价值。方法:对16例经手术病理或随访证实的肾脏占位性病变患者行超声造影,观察并分析病灶对比剂灌注时相和变化规律。结果:9例肾透明细胞癌,超声造影表现多种多样,与正常肾皮质相比较:快进7例,同进2例,快退3例,同退3例,慢退3例;与正常肾皮质强化程度相比较:6例高强化,3例等强化。3例肾囊性病灶,超声造影轮廓较二维超声清晰,但内部始终未见强化。2例肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤表现为慢进慢退,回声呈等、低强化表现。2例肾柱肥大超声造影增强动态变化时间、强度与正常肾实质一致。结论:超声造影能够实时观察肾脏占位性病变的血流灌注情况,对肾脏占位性病变的诊断和鉴别诊断具有较高的临床应用价值。     

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in detection and follow-up of focal renal infections in children

Objective:Focal renal infections in children have to be diagnosed early in order to enable an appropriate antibiotic treatment. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the efficacy and clinical utility of intravenous renal contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as an alternative imaging method for the diagnosis and follow-up of focal renal infections in children.Methods:Fourteen children aged from 6 months to 17 years (mean 6.5 years) in whom focal renal infection was suspected were included in this retrospective study. All data were obtained from medical and imaging records of the patients.Results:CEUS was performed for the diagnosis in all 14 children and then also for follow-up in seven children with renal abscess. In three children enhancement pattern was concordant with focal nephritis and in four children CEUS excluded focal renal infection and the diagnosis of pseudolesion was confirmed.Conclusion:Renal CEUS was proven to be an efficient and self-sufficient imaging in diagnosis and further follow-up of focal renal infections in children. CEUS patterns of focal renal infections are described as well as relevant CEUS enhancement patterns important for differential diagnosis. Renal abscess follow-up algorithm with CEUS is suggested.Advances in knowledge:All clinically relevant imaging data was obtained by CEUS and no other imaging was necessary for the diagnosis and follow-up.     

肾脏肿瘤的MR动态增强扫描研究

目的:探讨MR动态增强扫描在肾脏肿瘤诊断和鉴别诊断中的价值。方法:对21例肾细胞癌、11例肾错构瘤和6例肾囊肿行MR常规检查及动态增强和延迟增强扫描,测量病灶的信号强度,绘制时间-对比增强率曲线并对动态增强的类型及血液动力学改变进行分析。结果:肾脏肿瘤动态增强后的时间-对比增强率曲线不同,富血供肾癌在早期强化并逐渐上升,但其时间-对比增强率曲线无明显峰值;乏血供肾癌早期轻度强化,缓慢上升至60s后趋于稳定;肾错构瘤早期即明显强化,于30s达到强化高峰后快速下降;肾囊肿则无明显强化。结论:通过定量分析肾脏肿瘤的信号强度,动态增强MRI可以提供肿瘤的血供信息,有助于肾脏肿瘤的诊断和鉴别诊断。     

超声造影在膀胱占位性病变诊断中的应用

目的:探讨超声造影在膀胱占位性病变诊断中的临床应用价值.方法:对25例膀胱占位性病变行实时超声造影, 观察并分析病灶的超声造影表现,总结超声造影灌注时相的动态变化规律,并与病理结果相对照.结果:超声造影提示膀胱恶性肿瘤17例(26个病灶),经手术病理证实膀胱移行细胞癌18例.超声造影诊断膀胱癌的敏感性为94.4%(17/18),特异性为100%(7/7),准确性为96.0%(24/25).结论:超声造影能够实时观察膀胱占位性病变的血流灌注情况,对占位性病变的诊断和鉴别诊断具有较高的临床应用价值.     

浸润性肾盂癌 MRI 诊断价值

目的：分析并评价浸润性肾盂癌的 MRI 影像学特征,以提高对其诊断与鉴别诊断的能力。方法回顾性分析病理证实为浸润性肾盂癌的21例患者资料,所有患者均接受 MRI 平扫及 DWI 检查,其中3例进行 PWI 检查。结果21例浸润性肾盂癌中心均位于肾脏集合系统,肾脏轮廓大多无明显变化。病灶在 MRI 平扫上大多呈稍长 T1稍短 T2信号,5例病灶呈混杂 T1混杂 T2信号,病灶在 DWI 均呈高信号。3例行 PWI 扫描呈轻-中度强化。3例行肾 AMRA 检查显示肾动脉受包绕推挤,4例伴有静脉癌栓形成,11例伴有腹膜后淋巴结转移,3例伴有肾上腺转移。1例伴有输尿管尿路上皮癌,2例伴有膀胱癌。结论MRI 具有多参数成像能力及较高的软组织分辨率,可清晰显示病灶部位及周围关系,对浸润性肾盂癌诊断及鉴别诊断具有较高的价值。     

非典型肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤的影像诊断

目的分析肾脏无或少脂肪血管平滑肌脂肪瘤的影象学表现,探讨CT和MRI在其鉴别诊断中的价值。方法回顾分析13例经手术病理证实的非典型肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤的影象学表现,所有病例均做CT检查,其中6例做MRI检查。结果肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤13例共15个病灶,其中仅4例含少量脂肪成分,余所有病例均未见明显脂肪成分。CT平扫除4例呈等密度外,余均呈略高密度,动态增强扫描在肾皮质期呈明显均匀强化。MRI显示所有肿瘤在T2WI脂肪抑制时均呈低信号。结论非典型肾血管平滑肌脂肪瘤易与和肾癌相混淆,CT表现具有一定的特征性和鉴别诊断价值,如鉴别诊断仍有困难,应做MRI检查以提供进一步的诊断依据。     

Renal elasticity and perfusion changes associated with fibrosis on ultrasonography in a rabbit model of obstructive uropathy

To evaluate elasticity and perfusion change associated with fibrosis in a rabbit model of unilateral ureter obstruction using shear wave elastography (SWE) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). Complete unilateral ureter obstruction by ligation was performed in the left kidney of 15 rabbits. Renal elasticity on SWE and perfusion change on CEUS at the renal cortex were measured before and after the operation. Histopathological renal fibrosis was quantified by the stained area ratio with Masson trichrome and Picrosirius red using ImageJ analysis. Renal elasticity and perfusion values were compared by the Mann-Whitney U test and Proc Mixed as a function of time. Spearman’s correlation was used to analyze differences between imaging values and fibrosis. The duration of imaging follow-up was up to 49 days, with interval imaging performed 1–3 times. Renal elasticity values were higher in obstructed kidneys compared to contralateral kidneys (31.0 kPa vs 16.4 kPa, p < 0.001) and increased according to postoperative time (0.46 kPa/day). With respect to renal fibrosis, SWE values were positively correlated with Masson trichrome (ρ = 0.651, p < 0.001) and Picrosirius red (ρ = 0.514, p = 0.007). Among CEUS parameters, mean transit time was negatively correlated with renal fibrosis by Masson trichrome (ρ = − 0.639, p = 0.001) and Picrosirius red (ρ = − 0.625, p = 0.001). Rise time and time to peak were positively correlated with renal fibrosis. Obstructive uropathy resulted in changes to both renal elasticity and perfusion. Renal fibrosis was moderately associated with increased renal cortical stiffness and both delayed and decreased cortical perfusion. • Obstructive uropathy causes changes in elasticity and perfusion in a rabbit model. • Renal fibrosis from obstructive uropathy increases renal cortical stiffness, and both delay and decrease cortical perfusion.     

Negative Predictive Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound of Liver and Kidney Thermal Ablation Sites for Local Tumour Progression During Long-term Follow-up: A Retrospective Consecutive Study

PurposeTo determine negative predictive value (NPV) of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to demonstrate local tumour progression (LTP) at thermal ablation (TA) sites.MethodsOur institutional review board approved this retrospective study; acquisition of consent was waived. Consecutive CEUS examinations performed between 2004-2014 for TA site evaluation on patients who could not undergo enhanced computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or had inconclusive CT or MRI, were retrospectively reviewed. Those reported as no abnormal enhancement in or surrounding TA site were included. CEUS examination was considered true-negative based on stability or lack of enhancement/washout on follow-up imaging for at least 1 year, and false-negative (FN), if there was an arterially enhancing focus with wash-out at or surrounding TA site on subsequent follow-up imaging.ResultsStudy population included 56 tumours in 54 patients, 11 women, 43 men; mean age 71 years. Two patients had TA of two different hepatocellular carcinomas. Thirty-six examinations were for hepatic TA and twenty for renal TA. Lesion sizes ranged from 1 cm to 7 cm (mean 3.1 ± 1.2). Mean diameter of 7 recurrences was 13.8 mm. Overall FN rate was 12.5% (7/56). Corresponding numbers were 0% (0/20) for renal TA and 19.4% (7/36) for hepatic TA.Overall NPV of CEUS was 87.5% (49/56) (confidence interval [CI]: 78.8%–96.2%). NPV for renal TA was 100% (20/20) (CI: 100%–100%) and for hepatic TA 81.5% (29/36) (CI: 67.6 %-93.5%).ConclusionIn this cohort, CEUS showed high NPV for exclusion of LTP at renal TA sites. NPV for hepatic TA sites was high but lower than renal TA.     

Role of contrast enhanced ultrasound in characterization of focal liver lesions

Aim

The purpose of the study was to describe the enhancement patterns of focal liver lesions (FLLs) on contrast enhanced sonography (CEUS), assessing the potential of this technique for characterizing the lesions and to compare its diagnostic accuracy with conventional baseline sonography including color Doppler.

Materials and methods

Between August 2009 and July 2010, 50 patients with FLLs underwent gray scale sonography, color Doppler and CEUS. The enhancement patterns of these FLL’s were analyzed throughout the arterial phase, the portal venous phase and the extended portal venous phase (the late parenchymal phase). The final diagnosis was established on the basis of histopathologic examination or CT/MRI imaging.

Results

Out of these 50 FLLs, 33 were malignant (4 hepatocellular carcinoma and 29 metastasis) and 17 were benign (5 hemangioma, 5 abscess, 2 cyst and 1 each of FNH, focal fat sparing area, focal fatty infiltration, adenoma and benign/granulomatous lesion). The enhancement patterns after injecting microbubble contrast agent allowed characterization of FLLs. The malignant lesions showed intratumoral and/or peritumoral vascularity during the arterial phase and perfusion defect during the late parenchymal phase. Contrast enhanced sonography improved sensitivity in detecting malignancy (CEUS vs. baseline sonography, 100% vs. 81.8%).

Conclusion

CEUS improves detection and characterization of FLLs. It should be used as problem solving tool in cases where conventional gray scale and color Doppler sonography are non-diagnostic.     

肾、输尿管结核的临床和CTU表现

目的探讨肾、输尿管结核的临床和CT尿路造影（CTU）表现。方法回顾性分析23例肾、输尿管结核患者的临床资料及CTU检查资料。结果23例中,6例仅肾脏受累;11例肾脏、榆尿管同时受累,其中4例伴有膀胱受累;6例仅输尿管、膀胱受累,肾脏未见明显病变;11例伴有肾周受累。结论CTU能准确显示肾、输尿管病变本身及周围受侵犯情况,在肾、输尿管结核患者中具有重要诊断价值。     

Role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in assessing indeterminate renal lesions and Bosniak ≥2F complex renal cysts found incidentally on CT or MRI

Objective:To investigate the impact of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in reclassifying incidental renal findings categorized as indeterminate lesions (IL) or Bosniak ≥ 2F complex renal cysts (CRC) on CT or MRI.Methods:We retrospectively included 44 subjects who underwent CEUS between 2016 and 2019 to assess 48 IL (n = 12) and CRC (n = 36) incidentally found on CT or MRI. CEUS was performed by one radiologist with 10 year of experience with a sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble contrast agent. The same radiologist, blinded to clinical information and previous CT/MRIs, retrospectively reviewed CEUS images/videos, categorizing renal findings with Bosniak-derived imaging categories ranging from 0 (indeterminate) to 5 (solid lesion). CEUS-related reclassification rate was calculated (proportion of IL reclassified with an imaging category >0, or CRC reclassified below or above imaging category >2F). Using histological examination or a ≥ 24 months follow-up as the standard of reference, we also estimated per-lesion sensitivity/specificity for malignancy.Results:CEUS reclassified 24/48 findings (50.0%; 95% C.I. 35.2–64.7), including 12/12 IL (100%; 95% CI 73.5–100) and 12/36 CRC (33.3%; 95% C.I. 18.5–50.9), mostly above category >2F (66.7%). CEUS and CT/MRI showed 96.0% (95%CI 79.7–99.9) vs 44.0% (95%CI 24.4–65.1) sensitivity, and 82.6% (95%CI 61.2–95.1) vs 60.9% (95%CI 38.5–80.3%) specificity.Conclusion:CEUS provided substantial and accurate reclassification of CT/MRI incidental findings.Advances in knowledge:Previous studies included Bosniak 2 incidental findings, thus possibly underestimating CEUS-induced reclassification rates. Using a more meaningful cut-off (Bosniak ≥2F), problem-solving CEUS was effective as well, with higher reclassification rates for CRC than in literature.     

多层螺旋CT灌注成像对肾癌的诊断及鉴别诊断价值

目的:探讨多层螺旋CT(MSCT)灌注成像对肾癌的诊断及鉴别诊断价值。方法:搜集经病理或临床证实的肾细胞癌患者39例,肾错构瘤2例,肾囊肿11例,肾周感染性病变2例,双肾正常者32例,均行MSCT肾脏灌注扫描。通过后处理软件分析所得灌注参数血流量(BF)、血容量(BV)、表面通透性(PS)和平均通过时间(MTT)。结果:正常人两侧肾脏皮质或髓质的BF、BV、MTT、PS无显著性差异。肾癌与正常肾皮质BF、BV、MTT、PS均有显著性意义。而肾癌的BF、BV、PS值低于正常肾皮质,MTT高于正常肾皮质。并且BF值显著高于肾错构瘤、肾囊肿及肾周感染性病变等的BF值。结论:MSCT肾脏灌注成像实现了,肾脏血流的定量研究,对肾肿瘤定性诊断和鉴别诊断方面具有一定的临床应用价值。     

Quantification of renal perfusion: comparison of arterial spin labeling and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

Purpose:

To provide the first comparison of absolute renal perfusion obtained by arterial spin labeling (ASL) and separable compartment modeling of dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Moreover, we provide the first application of the dual bolus approach to quantitative DCE‐MRI perfusion measurements in the kidney.

Materials and Methods:

Consecutive ASL and DCE‐MRI acquisitions were performed on six rabbits on a 1.5 T MRI system. Gadolinium (Gd)‐DTPA was administered in two separate injections to decouple measurement of the arterial input function and tissue uptake curves. For DCE perfusion, pixel‐wise and mean cortex region‐of‐interest tissue curves were fit to a separable compartment model.

Results:

Absolute renal cortex perfusion estimates obtained by DCE and ASL were in close agreement: 3.28 ± 0.59 mL/g/min (ASL), 2.98 ± 0.60 mL/g/min (DCE), and 3.57 ± 0.96 mL/g/min (pixel‐wise DCE). Renal medulla perfusion was 1.53 ± 0.35 mL/g/min (ASL) but was not adequately described by the separable compartment model.

Conclusion:

ASL and DCE‐MRI provided similar measures of absolute perfusion in the renal cortex, offering both noncontrast and contrast‐based alternatives to improve current renal MRI assessment of kidney function. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Sichere Diagnostik zystischer Nierenläsionen

Clinical/methodical issue

Cystic renal lesions are commonly seen during routine ultrasound examinations of the abdomen.

Standard radiological methods

Some cystic renal lesions cannot be sufficiently characterized using native ultrasound. In these cases additional imaging might be necessary.

Methodical innovations

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a reliable imaging modality to characterize cystic renal lesions. Contrast enhancement of septations and the cystic wall are visualized in high resolution. This information helps to categorize the cystic renal lesions applying the CEUS Bosniak classification. This classification helps to estimate the probability of a malignant etiology of cystic renal lesions.

Performance

Using CEUS, cystic renal lesions can be characterized with a high sensitivity and specificity.

Achievements

The advantages of CEUS include that there is no effect on the function of the kidneys or the thyroid gland and no radiation exposure. In some cases, additional cross-sectional imaging is necessary to optimize diagnostic accuracy.

Practical recommendations

CEUS is a helpful imaging modality to characterize cystic renal lesions, to avoid unnecessary follow-ups and to detect malignant cystic renal lesions.

     

Multiple renal aspergillus abscesses in an AIDS patient: contrast-enhanced helical CT and MRI findings

Renal insufficiency or allergic reactions for X-ray contrast agents are frequent limitations in immunocompromised hosts such as neutropenic or AIDS patients. Due to a better tolerance of contrast agents in MRI, this technique is well suited for investigation of parenchymal organs. We demonstrate an allergic AIDS patient who presented with fever and flank pain. At sonography, anechoic renal lesions were supposed to be non-complicated cysts; however, on T2-weighted MRI, the center was of high signal. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the kidneys demonstrated an enhancing rim with ill-defined margins. The lesions were supposed to be multiple bilateral abscesses. Due to the multiple dynamic contrast series, a delayed enhancement of renal parenchyma was detectable adjacent to the lesion. This was suggested as accompanying local pyelonephritis and an infectious etiology became more reliable. Aspergillus fumigatus was identified by CT-guided biopsy as the underlying microorganism. The MR appearance of this manifestation has not been described previously. Received: 8 June 1998; Revision received: 7 August 1998; Accepted: 26 August 1998     

肾细胞癌的磁共振表现及病理对照研究

目的:探讨肾细胞癌(RCC)的MRI征象及其病理基础,评价其临床诊断价值。方法:41例RCC患者均行MRI平扫及增强扫描,其中10例行动态增强MRI扫描,并将MRI征象与手术病理表现对照分析。结果:肾透明细胞癌以等信号或长T1、长T2信号改变为主,颗粒细胞癌以长T1、长T2信号改变为主。MRI平扫,SE-T1WI和FSE-T2WI序列分别有21例和25例显示假包膜;对比增强扫描,38例RCC肿块明显强化,病理切片示其中34例细胞排列为实性,内含丰富的窦样血管;28例强化不均匀,病理切片示其中25例可见出血坏死;平均信号强度-时间曲线示肿瘤组织的最大强化斜率大于正常肾实质。结论:RCC的MRI表现与病理类型及肿瘤结构有关;假包膜征对诊断RCC有价值,不同MRI扫描序列和不同RCC细胞类型的假包膜征显示率无差异;动态增强MRI扫描对RCC的诊断有一定帮助。     

Intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound in traumatic brain surgery

ObjectiveThe objective was to assess intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in traumatic brain surgery.MethodsWe prospectively performed intraoperative conventional ultrasound (IOUS) and CEUS in 32 patients who underwent emergency surgery for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Sonographic appearance including echogenicity, border, and size of the traumatic lesion and adjacent brain tissue on CEUS were compared with those on IOUS using surgical results as the gold standard. The differences in the size and contrast enhancement parameters of the lesions between IOUS and CEUS were analyzed with a paired t test.ResultsThe accuracy of CEUS in assessing TBI was 100%, whereas IOUS was 51%. The absolute peak intensity (API) varied depending on the severity of brain injury. Lower API was observed in severely damaged brain tissue, whereas high API was seen in normal brain tissue or the brain tissue with mild injury. The border of the trauma lesion was more clearly defined on CEUS when compared to IOUS. The size of the lesions measured on CEUS was significantly larger than that on IOUS (P< .01). Importantly, small vessels supplying blood to the tissue in traumatic lesions, as an indication of possible brain vitality, were optimized on CEUS during the surgery. Based on the parameter of time intensity curve and appearances of the lesions on CEUS, the severity of lesions was reclassified and surgical intervention was redesigned in 21 (21/32, 66%) cases.ConclusionIntraoperative CEUS improves accuracy in classification of traumatic brain injury, which helps neurosurgeons to effectively remove hematoma, preserve normal brain tissue, and prevent damaging the vessels during surgical intervention.     

Imaging manifestations of congenital mesoblastic nephroma

ObjectiveCongenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) is a rare renal tumor mainly observed in infants and young children. This study aims to analyze the imaging manifestations of CMN to improve the understanding of the disease.MethodsThe imaging manifestations and clinical records of all pediatric patients with CMN admitted to our hospital over the last 7 years were retrospectively analyzed. The diagnosis of CMN was confirmed by postoperative pathology. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) scans; 2 patients additionally underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (including one prenatal MRI scan).ResultsWe evaluated 10 pediatric patients (6 males and 4 females) aged 7 days to 12 months (median age: 4 months) with CMN located on the left kidney in six cases and the right kidney in four cases. The CT imaging manifested as solid lesions (5 cases), solid-cystic lesions with solid predominance (4 cases), or solid-multicystic lesions with cystic predominance (1 case). Enhanced CT showed moderately and heterogeneously enhanced solid component and intracystic septations at the corticomedullary phase that were further enhanced at the nephrographic phase, although their CT values were still lower than those of the renal parenchyma. The “double-layer sign” were seen in 4 cases of classic type of CMN, and the “intratumor pelvis sign” were seen in 9 cases that include 5 classic, 3 cellular and 1 mixed type of CMN. In the 2 patients who underwent MRI, the scans showed solitary masses. The lesions had hypointense signals on the T1WI sequence and isointensity or slightly lower-intensity signals than the surrounding renal parenchyma on the fluid-sensitive sequences, whereas the lesions showed hyperintense signals on the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequence.ConclusionsThe imaging manifestations of CMN are closely correlated with the pathological subtype and have certain characteristics. The “double-layer sign” was seen with most classic type CMN, and “intratumor pelvis sign” was seen in 90% cases.     

The role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of malignant non-mass breast lesions and exploration of diagnostic criteria

Objectives:To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for diagnosing malignant non-mass breast lesions (NMLs) and to explore the CEUS diagnostic criteria.Methods:A total of 116 patients with 119 NMLs detected by conventional US were enrolled. Histopathological results were used as the reference standard. The enhancement characteristics of NMLs in CEUS were compared between malignant and benign NMLs. The CEUS diagnostic criteria for malignant NMLs were established using independent diagnostic indicators identified by binary logistic regression analysis. The diagnostic performance of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-US (BI-RADS-US), CEUS, and BI-RADS-US combined with CEUS was evaluated and compared.Results:Histopathological results showed 63 and 56 benign and malignant NMLs. Enhancement degree (OR = 5.75, p = 0.003), enhancement area (OR = 4.25, p = 0.005), and radial or penetrating vessels (OR = 7.54, p = 0.003) were independent diagnostic indicators included to establish the CEUS diagnostic criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of BI-RADS-US, CEUS, and BI-RADS-US combined with CEUS were 100 and 30.2%, 80.4 and 74.6%, and 94.6 and 77.8%, respectively; the corresponding areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were 0.819, 0.775, and 0.885, respectively.Conclusions:CEUS has a high specificity in malignant NML diagnosis based on the diagnostic criteria including enhancement degree, enhancement area, and radial or penetrating vessels, but with lower sensitivity than BI-RADS-US. The combination of CEUS and BI-RADS-US is an effective diagnostic tool with both high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of malignant NMLs.Advances in knowledge:In this study, we assessed the diagnostic value of CEUS for malignant NMLs and constructed a feasible diagnostic criterion. We further revealed that the combination of CEUS and BI-RADS-US has a high diagnostic value for malignant NMLs.     

Contrast enhanced ultrasound with quantitative perfusion analysis for objective characterization of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A feasibility study

The aim of this study was to determine whether contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) quantitative perfusion analysis allows an objective characterization of ductal adenocarcinoma (ADK) of the pancreas. Patients with pancreatic ADK underwent CEUS. All examinations were performed on an Acuson S2000 system (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) after the iv administration of 2.4 mL contrast agent (SonoVue^®, Bracco, Milan, Italy). All lesions were pathologically proved. An operator manually drew different regions of interest within the tumor and the adjacent parenchyma to allow the quantitative perfusion analysis. The mean values of peak of enhancement, time to peak and ascending curve were calculated and compared using the Student’s t test. The quantitative perfusion analysis was possible in all lesions. The mean values of the peak of enhancement, time to peak and ascending curve were 17.19%, 7.97 s and 159.52% s within the tumor and 33.57%, 8.89 s and 355.29% s within the adjacent parenchyma. The peak of enhancement and the ascending curve values were significantly different within the tumor and the adjacent parenchyma. Thus, CEUS allows the quantitative perfusion analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.