Multi-detector row helical CT of the liver: quantitative assessment of iodine concentration of intravenous contrast material on multiphasic CT--a prospective randomized study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the quantitative effects of contrast material concentration on hepatic parenchymal and vascular enhancement in multiphasic computed tomography (CT), using multi-detector row helical CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a prospective randomized study to test two different concentrations of contrast material on five phasic scans of the liver. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to two groups: an iodine concentration of 300 mg/mL in group A and 370 mg/mL in group B. All patients received a fixed volume of 100 mL at a 4 mL/sec injection rate. Enhancement values for the hepatic parenchyma and aorta at three levels (upper, middle, and lower level of the liver), and values for portal and hepatic veins were statistically compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Hepatic parenchymal enhancement values at all levels of the liver in portal phase (PP) and equilibrium phase (EP) were significantly higher in group B than in group A (p<0.01). Aortic enhancement values at two levels of the liver (middle and lower) in early hepatic arterial phase (EAP) were significantly higher in group B than in group A (p<0.05), however, there was no significant difference between groups A and B in aortic enhancement during the delayed hepatic arterial phase (DAP). Portal and hepatic venous enhancement values in PP and EP were significantly higher in group B than in group A (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: On multiphasic dynamic CT, the use of a higher iodine concentration of contrast material results in higher hepatic parenchymal enhancement and aortic enhancement, as well as higher portal and hepatic venous enhancement.     

肝脏双期螺旋CT扫描的临床应用价值

目的:研究双期螺旋CT最佳扫描技术及其在肝肿瘤或肝癌探测中的应用。材料与方法:35例无肝肿瘤和17例肝肿瘤患者均经双期螺旋CT行肝脏扫描,于动脉期和门静脉期观察了正常肝脏和肝细胞癌病灶中的CT表现。结果:正常肝脏与肝细胞癌的CT表现有明显不同。在12例肝细胞癌患者中确切看到了14个肝细胞癌病灶,其中13个病灶在动脉期呈高密度,12个病灶在门静脉期呈低密度,动脉期和门静脉期肝细胞癌的检出率分别为92.8％和85.7％。结论:选择最优化扫描参数,可清晰显示肝细胞癌的增强特点,并显著提高其病变的检出率,因此,双期螺旋CT扫描可当作探测肝肿瘤或肝细胞癌的常规方法。     

Effective contrast use in CT angiography and dual-phase hepatic CT performed with a subsecond scanner

OBJECTIVE: To deduce an optimal injection protocol for CT angiography and fast dual-phase hepatic CT. METHODS: Fifty-two patients underwent fast dual-phase hepatic CT using one of three different injection protocols: A (0.9 g/sec iodine injection rate, 36 g dose); B (1.35 g/sec, 30 g); C (1.6 g/sec, 40 g). Aortic attenuation time curves as well as aorta-to-liver contrast and hepatic enhancement time curves obtained by region of interest measurements along the helical axis were analyzed. RESULTS: Protocol C revealed a significantly higher peak in aortic attenuation and hepatic enhancement than the other protocols. Approximately 50 seconds after the bolus injection, hepatic enhancement declined to a plateau similar to that seen with the other protocols. In terms of the areas under the curves of the aorta-to-liver contrast and hepatic enhancement dynamics, protocol C was significantly superior to the other protocols. CONCLUSIONS: A high iodine injection rate realized by a high iodine concentration in conjunction with fast dual-phase scanning (total scan time < 50 seconds) promises to enhance CT angiography and contrast of liver lesions.     

Mathematical analysis of arterial enhancement and optimization of bolus geometry for CT angiography using the discrete fourier transform.

PURPOSE: The goal of this work was to develop a clinically applicable mathematical algorithm to analyze and optimize individual arterial enhancement in CT angiography (CTA). METHOD: Assuming a time-invariant linear system, the discrete Fourier transform was used to calculate the transfer function of the system ("patient function") from the arterial time-attenuation response to a test bolus. The patient function was subsequently used to predict aortic enhancement in five select patients and to calculate optimized biphasic injection protocols in two of these patients undergoing CTA of the abdominal aorta. RESULTS: Arterial time-attenuation curves were accurately predicted in all patients. Optimized biphasic contrast agent injection protocols resulted in uniform aortic enhancement at the predefined level over the entire scanning period in both subjects despite markedly different contrast agent volumes and injection rates used. CONCLUSION: Fourier analysis of the time-attenuation response to a test bolus is a simple and feasible approach to optimize arterial enhancement in CTA.     

Hepatic enhancement in multiphasic contrast-enhanced MDCT: comparison of high- and low-iodine-concentration contrast medium in same patients with chronic liver disease

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of hepatic enhancement and image quality in patients with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis who underwent multiphasic contrast-enhanced dynamic imaging on MDCT at least twice using standard (300 mg I/mL) and higher (370 mg I/mL) iodine concentrations in contrast medium during follow-up periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 20 patients with chronic liver diseases who underwent at least two multiphasic contrast-enhanced dynamic MDCT examinations using 100 mL of standard (300 mg I/mL = group A) and higher (370 mg I/mL = group B) iodine concentrations in contrast medium. After we obtained unenhanced CT scans, we performed multiphasic scanning at 30 sec (arterial phase), 60 sec (portal phase), and 180 sec (late phase) after the start of contrast medium injection. The CT values of hepatic parenchyma, abdominal aorta, and portal vein were measured. The mean enhancement value was defined as the difference in CT values between unenhanced and contrast-enhanced images. Visual image quality was also assessed on the basis of the degree of hepatic and vascular enhancement, rated on a 4-point scale. RESULTS: The mean hepatic parenchyma enhancement values in group B was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than those in group A during the portal phase (43.8 +/- 8.2 H vs 36.2 +/- 7.3 H) and the late phase (33.7 +/- 7.0 H vs 27.3 +/- 3.9 H), but the difference on the arterial phase images between the two groups (9.4 +/- 3.2 H vs 8.3 +/- 2.5 H) was not significant. The mean aorta-to-liver contrast during the arterial phase in group B was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that in group A (236 +/- 40 H vs 193 +/- 32 H). For qualitative analysis, the mean visual scores for hepatic parenchyma and vasculature enhancement in group B were significantly higher than those in group A in arterial phase (p < 0.018), portal phase (p < 0.0001), and late phase (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In the same patients with chronic liver diseases, a higher iodine concentration (370 mg I/mL) in the contrast medium improves contrast enhancement of liver parenchyma in the portal phase and late phase images, improves overall image quality, and helps improve diagnostic accuracy for liver diseases on multiphasic contrast-enhanced dynamic MDCT.     

Aortic and hepatic enhancement and tumor-to-liver contrast: analysis of the effect of different concentrations of contrast material at multi-detector row helical CT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of different iodine concentrations of contrast material on aortic and hepatic enhancement and the detectability of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with multi-detector row computed tomography (CT) and a uniphasic contrast material injection technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred one patients with known or who were suspected of having HCC underwent multi-detector row CT; 58 patients with hypervascular HCC were identified. First-, second-, and third-phase scanning was started with the aortic arrival times plus 15 seconds, plus 30 seconds, and plus 105 seconds, respectively. All patients were assigned randomly into two groups. Patients in groups A and B received iopamidol with an iodine concentration of 300 mg/mL and 370 mg/mL, respectively, with the same total iodine load per patient per body weight. The liver and aorta enhancement and tumor-to-liver contrast (TLC) were measured. Depiction of hepatic arteries was evaluated visually by two radiologists. RESULTS: During the first phase, aortic enhancement was significantly (P <.01) higher in group B, with no significant difference in hepatic enhancement between the two groups. During the second phase, aortic enhancement was significantly (P <.01) higher in group A, with no significant difference in hepatic enhancement. The TLC was significantly (P <.01) higher in group B during the first phase, but there was no significant difference between the two groups during the second phase. There was no significant difference in any parameters between the two groups during the third phase. Depiction of the hepatic arteries in group B was significantly (P <.05) superior to that in group A. CONCLUSION: In the arterial phase, administration of a higher concentration of contrast material is effective for a significantly higher TLC.     

Multiphase contrast-enhanced CT of the liver with a multislice CT scanner: effects of iodine concentration and delivery rate

PURPOSE: To determine whether or not high-concentration contrast material is useful in multiphase contrast-enhanced CT of the liver with a multislice CT scanner. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-four examinations, in which first- and second-pass acquisitions (double arterial phase imaging) were performed during a single breath-hold followed by third-pass acquisition, were randomized into three protocols: contrast injection at 0.07 mL/kg body weight/sec over 30 sec at an iodine concentration of 300 mgI/mL in group 1, contrast injection at 0.06 mL/kg body weight/sec over 30 sec at an iodine concentration of 350 mgI/mL in group 2, and contrast injection at 0.07 mL/kg body weight/sec over 25.7 sec at an iodine concentration of 350 mgI/mL in group 3. Each group received an equivalent iodine dose per kg body weight (2.1 mL/kg of contrast material of 300 mgI/mL). Contrast enhancement in each acquisition was measured in the aorta, portal vein, and liver. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were seen between groups 1 and 2 in any enhancement in any acquisition. In group 3, aortic enhancement in the first-pass acquisition was significantly more intense than in groups 1 and 2, while portal venous enhancement and hepatic enhancement were equivalent. CONCLUSION: Shortening the injection duration for a given iodine dose with high-concentration contrast material (group 3) can achieve improved arterial enhancement on arterial phase images.     

Influence of saline flushing on the optimal temporal window for CT of the liver using a time-density analysis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of saline flushing on the optimal temporal window for hepatic CT by analyzing time-density curves. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight patients were randomly assigned to three groups to receive 100 mL of contrast material alone (n=32; group A), 100 mL of contrast material with 30 mL of saline flush (n=26; group B), and 85 mL of contrast material with 30 mL of saline flush (n=30; group C). In each group, the time-density curves of the liver, portal vein, and aorta were obtained. The degree of mean peak enhancement (PE), mean time to peak (TTP), time to onset of the equilibrium phase (Teq), and time between aortic peak enhancemant and onset of equilibrium phase (Ta-eq) were analyzed. RESULTS: The PE of liver and portal vein for group B were significantly greater than those of group A (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in PE of liver, portal vein, and aorta, and TTP of liver and aorta between group A and group C. However, Teq and Ta-eq for group C were significantly shorter than those of group A and group B (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Using a saline flush was able to reduce iodine dose, however, when using the decreased contrast material with saline flush, the duration of the optimal temporal window for hepatic CT was shortened.     

Effect of iodine concentration of contrast media on contrast enhancement in multislice CT of the pancreas

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of two different iodine concentrations of the non-ionic contrast agent, Iomeprol, on contrast enhancement in multislice CT (MSCT) of the pancreas. To achieve this MSCT of the pancreas was performed in 50 patients (mean age 57+/-14 years) with suspected or known pancreatic tumours. The patients were randomly assigned to group A (n=25 patients) or group B (n=25 patients). There were no statistically significant differences in age, height or weight between the patients of the two groups. The contrast agent, Iomeprol, was injected with iodine concentrations of 300 mg ml(-1) in group A (130 ml, injection rate 5 ml s(-1)) and 400 mg ml(-1) in group B (98 ml, injection rate 5 ml s(-1)). Arterial and portal venous phase contrast enhancement (HU) of the vessels, organs, and pancreatic masses were measured and a qualitative image assessment was performed by two independent readers. In the arterial phase, Iomeprol 400 led to a significantly greater enhancement in the aorta, superior mesenteric artery, coeliac trunk, pancreas, pancreatic carcinomas, kidneys, spleen and wall of the small intestine than Iomeprol 300. Portal venous phase enhancement was significantly greater in the pancreas, pancreatic carcinomas, wall of the small intestine and portal vein with Iomeprol 400. The two independent readers considered Iomeprol 400 superior over Iomeprol 300 concerning technical quality, contribution of the contrast agent to the diagnostic value, and evaluability of vessels in the arterial phase. No differences were found for tumour delineation and evaluability of infiltration of organs adjacent to the pancreas between the two iodine concentrations. In conclusion the higher iodine concentration leads to a higher arterial phase contrast enhancement of large and small arteries in MSCT of the pancreas and therefore improves the evaluability of vessels in the arterial phase.     

螺旋CT双期或三期扫描对肝脏占位性病变的诊断

目的：分析肝脏螺旋CT双期或三期扫描表现，探讨其对原发性肝癌、肝转移瘤、肝血管瘤的诊断及鉴别诊断的意义。方法：经临床证实25例，均作螺旋CT平扫、动脉期、门脉期及部分平衡期和延迟期扫描，并分析螺旋CT多期扫描表现。结果：原发性肝癌动脉期明显强化而肝脏无强化，形成鲜明的对比，门脉期呈相对低密度或恢复到平扫时表现。肝血管瘤CT特征为动脉期呈边缘性环状、结节样强化，门脉期病灶边缘强化向中心强化并充满病灶呈高密度，平衡期呈等密度或低密度肝转移瘤表现多样化，周边强化或不均匀强化或不强化。结论：螺旋CT双期或三期扫描已作为对肝脏占位性病变的主要检查方法，并作为常规。     

Fungal liver infection in immunocompromised patients: depiction with multiphasic contrast-enhanced helical CT

PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess multiphasic (nonenhanced, arterial phase, and portal venous phase) computed tomography (CT) of the liver for depiction of hepatic fungal infection in immunocompromised patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional ethics review board approved the study and waived the requirement for informed consent. Sixty multiphasic hepatic CT examinations were performed in 39 immunocompromised patients who fulfilled the criteria for having probable or proved fungal liver infection. The detection and conspicuity of focal liver lesions were assessed on scans obtained during each CT phase. The lesion enhancement pattern was determined, and, accordingly, lesions were stratified into two groups: lesions suggestive of infection (with ring enhancement patterns or high attenuation) and nonspecific hypoattenuating lesions. Statistical analyses were performed by using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: A total of 536 liver lesions detected at 36 CT examinations with results positive for fungal infection were assessed. All 36 (100%) examinations yielded positive results during the arterial phase, whereas 25 (69%) of them yielded positive results during the portal venous phase (P < .001). At lesion-by-lesion analysis, the arterial phase scans depicted significantly more lesions (483 of 536 [90%]) than the portal venous phase (329 of 536 [61%]) and nonenhanced (265 of 465 [57%]) scans (P < .001 for both comparisons). In addition, on arterial phase scans, 386 of 483 lesions, as compared with 134 of 329 lesions on portal venous phase scans (P < .001), were judged to have an enhancement pattern suggestive of infection. The CT phases did not differ significantly in terms of the conspicuity of detected lesions. CONCLUSION: In patients suspected of having hepatic fungal infection, arterial phase CT depicts significantly more hepatic lesions than does CT performed during the other phases, and it reveals more lesions with enhancement patterns suggestive of infection. Arterial phase CT should be performed in addition to portal venous phase CT in patients suspected of having hepatic fungal infection.     

Comparison of 2 contrast materials with different iodine concentrations in 3-dimensional computed tomography angiography of the hepatic artery at multi-detector-row computed tomography: a randomized study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in visual evaluation of the hepatic arteries and contrast enhancement of the vessels and liver at 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) angiography by 2 different concentrations of contrast materials. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly assigned into groups A and B receiving contrast materials with iodine concentrations of 300 and 370 mg/mL, respectively. The total iodine load (600 mg/kg), iodine injection time (25 seconds), and saline flush time (10 seconds) were identical. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were evaluable. There were no differences between the 2 groups in visual evaluation of the hepatic arteries at 3D CT angiography. Contrast enhancement of the aorta at the late arterial phase and the liver at the portal phase was significantly higher in group B than in group A, but otherwise, there were no differences. Enhancement of the aorta and portal vein was higher in women than in men at some phases. CONCLUSIONS: With the same iodine dose and injection time, the concentration of contrast materials did not seem to be important in obtaining optimal images at 3D CT angiography of the hepatic artery.     

肝局灶性病变CT与MRI动态增强对照研究

目的:探讨肝局灶性病变在CT和MRI动态增强中的影像差异及其原因,以提高对CT及MRI各自动态增强表现的认识。方法:搜集17例肝脏局灶性病变患者的临床资料,其中7例肝细胞肝癌,5例海绵状血管瘤,2例腺瘤,2例局灶结节性增生,1例转移瘤。全部病例均分别行CT及MRI的平扫和三期动态增强扫描;MRI采用SE序列加快速扰相梯度回波序列,将CT和MR动态增强图像进行对照观察,包括动态增强各期的强化范围、强化方式和强化幅度,强化幅度的比较用病灶密度(信号)与肝脏密度(信号)的比值进行比较。结果:肝癌、腺瘤和局灶结节性增生在CT与MRI上强化范围相似。1例肝癌动脉期强化幅度MRI大于CT,3例肝癌和2例局灶结节性增生门脉期及延迟期强化幅度MRI大于CT,2例腺瘤增强各期强化幅度MRI均大于CT,以动脉期差异最大。5例海绵状血管瘤强化范围动脉期及门脉期MRI大于CT,延迟期则相仿。1例转移瘤CT增强各期均未见明显强化,MRI门脉期及延迟期可见环状强化。结论:肝局灶性病变CT与MRI动态增强表现存在一定的差异,主要表现为部分病变增强各期强化幅度MRI大于CT,尤以动脉期差异最大;部分病变增强范围MRI大于CT。     

High-concentration contrast media in multiphasic abdominal multidetector-row computed tomography: effect of increased iodine flow rate on parenchymal and vascular enhancement

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the iodine flow rate on parenchymal and vascular enhancement during multiphasic abdominal multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent MDCT at an iodine flow rate of 1.2 g/s as well as 1.6 g/s (group A, protocols 1 and 2), and 90 patients underwent MDCT at an iodine flow rate of 1.2 g/s (group B) or 1.6 g/s (group C). Measurements were performed for all groups in the liver, spleen, pancreas, portal vein, inferior vena cava, and abdominal aorta. RESULTS: Aortal and pancreatic enhancement during the arterial phase was significantly higher with the higher iodine flow rate. The mean difference in aortal enhancement was 60 Hounsfield units (HU) between protocols 1 and 2 of group A, and the mean difference was 70 HU between groups B and C. The mean difference in pancreatic enhancement was 10 HU between protocols 1 and 2 of group A and 17 HU between groups B and C. During the portal and hepatic venous phases, no significant difference in enhancement was observed. CONCLUSION: A high iodine flow rate in multiphasic abdominal MDCT improves enhancement of the aorta and the pancreas during the arterial phase but does not influence later phases.     

肝腺瘤的综合影像诊断

目的：描述肝腺瘤的超声（US），CT和MRI表现与病理基础，探讨综合影像对肝腺瘤的诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析经手术切除，病理症实的6例肝腺瘤的US，CT和MRI表现，并与病理所见对照。结果：6例肝腺瘤均为单发肿块，1例术前综合影像诊断为肝腺瘤，4例误诊为肝癌，例误诊为肝局灶结节性增生。US：6例呈稍低或低回声，4例有低回声晕，彩色多普勒显示6例肿块内有较丰富的门脉样血流和低速动脉样血流，CT：6例为稍低或低密度，4例有假包膜，4例动脉期，门脉期均轻度强化，1例动脉期中度强化，门脉期轻度强化，MRI：T1WI和T2WI上，6例表现为以高信号为主的混杂信号，用脂肪抑制后T1WI上的高信号无变化；2例动脉期显著强化，门脉期和延迟期轻度强化，3例动脉期，门脉期和延迟基匀轻度强化。6例均有假包膜，且在门脉期或延迟期现轻度强化。结论：肝腺瘤的综合影像表现缺乏特性性。对有假包膜和混杂高信号（用脂肪抑制后T1WI上的高信号无变化）的多血供肿块应考虑到肝腺瘤的诊断。     

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MDCT of the liver: analysis of the effect of different iodine concentrations with the same total iodine dose in the same chronic liver disease patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of aortic and hepatic enhancement in patients with chronic liver disease who underwent dynamic MDCT using a higher concentration of contrast material within the same total iodine dose (80 mL of 370 mgI/mL), compared with a standard iodine concentration (100 mL of 300 mgI/mL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dynamic MDCT of the liver was performed in 35 patients using different prefilled syringes (300 mgI/mL = group A, 370 mgI/mL = group B) during follow-up periods. The bolus-tracking program was used to automatically start the arterial phase scan. The attenuation values for the abdominal aorta, the hepatic parenchyma, and portal veins were measured. RESULTS: Attenuation values of the aorta and hepatic artery in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (p<0.001). Attenuation values of the splenic vein (SV) in group A were higher than those in group B (p=0.045). The relative hepatic enhancement (RHE) values during the portal phase in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (p=0.014). CONCLUSION: Administration of a higher iodine concentration in the contrast materials is advantageous for the detection of both hyper- and hypo-vascular hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).     

螺旋CT双期增强扫描诊断边缘型肝胆管癌

目的 :探讨螺旋CT双期扫描诊断边缘型肝胆管癌的价值。材料和方法 :回顾性分析经病理证实的 16例边缘型肝胆管癌的螺旋CT资料。所有病例均于注药后 3 0 ,65s分别获得肝动脉及门静脉双期图像。结果 :肿块直径 4.2～ 8.0cm ,以边缘不规则的低密度为主。增强扫描 11例于双期出现肿块周边菲薄、不连续的环形增强 ,3例周边厚的连续环形增强 ,1例肝动脉期均匀增强 ,1例无明显增强。 3例肿瘤内见线样分隔 ,12例在肝动脉期及门静脉期无明显差异。结论 :边缘型肝胆管癌的特征性CT表现为肝动脉期及门静脉期菲薄、不连续的环形轻度增强 ,在双时相间变化不明显。     

Discrimination of small hepatic hemangiomas from hypervascular malignant tumors smaller than 3 cm with three-phase helical CT

PURPOSE: To compare the appearance of small hepatic hemangiomas at nonenhanced and contrast material-enhanced helical computed tomography (CT) with that of small (<3-cm) hypervascular malignant liver tumors and to evaluate the accuracy of multiphase helical CT for differentiating small hemangiomas from small hypervascular malignant tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiologists reviewed multiphase helical CT liver images in 86 patients with 37 hemangiomas and 49 malignant liver tumors. They evaluated lesion type and degree of enhancement for change from arterial to portal venous phase. They rated their confidence in the discrimination of hemangiomas from malignant tumors. RESULTS: At arterial phase CT, enhancement similar to aortic enhancement was observed in 19%-32% of hemangiomas and 0%-2% of malignant tumors; globular enhancement, in 62%-68% and 4%-12%, respectively. At portal venous phase CT, enhancement similar to blood pool enhancement was observed in 43%-54% of hemangiomas and 4%-14% of malignant tumors; globular enhancement, in 46%-49% and 0%-2%, respectively. For all readers and all phases of enhancement, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.81-0.87, indicating that inherent accuracy of CT is high and that there was no significant difference (P >.28) in overall accuracy. Readers diagnosed hemangiomas with 47%-53% mean sensitivity with all enhancement phases and diagnosed malignant lesions with 95% mean specificity. CONCLUSION: Small hemangiomas frequently show atypical appearances at CT. Two-phase helical CT does not improve sensitivity but does improve specificity for differentiating hemangiomas from hypervascular malignant tumors.     

Differentiation of focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatocellular adenoma by contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Non-invasive differentiation of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is difficult. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of contrast-enhanced phase inversion ultrasound to differentiate between histologically proven FNH and HCA, analysing the arterial and (early) portal venous phase. 32 patients with histological proven FNH (n=24) or HCA (n=8) have been included in this prospective study. Examination technique: Siemens Elegra, phase inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) with low mechanical index (MI)<0.2-0.3 using SonoVue (BR 1). The contrast enhancing tumour characteristics were evaluated during the hepatic arterial (starting 8-22 s) and early portal venous phase (starting 12-30 s). The image analysis was performed by three examiners. In 23 of 24 patients with FNH the contrast pattern revealed pronounced arterial and (early) portal venous enhancement. Homogeneous enhancement was detected during the hepatic arterial phase in all eight patients with HCA. In contrast to patients with FNH, no enhancement was seen during the portal venous phase. In conclusion, contrast-enhanced phase inversion ultrasound demonstrated pronounced arterial and portal venous enhancement in patients with focal nodular hyperplasia. In contrast, after homogeneous enhancement during hepatic arterial phase, no enhancement during hepatic portal venous phase was detected in patients with hepatocellular adenoma. Therefore, this technique might improve the functional characterization of benign hypervascular focal liver lesions.     

Factors influencing vascular and hepatic enhancement at CT: experimental study on injection protocol using a canine model

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of contrast medium injection parameters on aortic, portal vein, and hepatic enhancement at spiral CT and to assess optimal injection protocol for hepatic CT. METHOD: Ten 15 kg dogs underwent single level dynamic CT through the hepatic hilum at 5 s intervals just after the injection of contrast medium for 3 min. With use of different volumes (1, 2, and 3 ml/kg), injection rates (0.5, 1, and 2 ml/s), and concentrations (150, 200, and 300 mg/ml), a total of 270 spiral CT scans were performed. In each scan, time-attenuation curves of aorta, portal vein, and liver were obtained. The degree of maximum contrast enhancement (Imax), time to maximum enhancement (Tmax), and time to equilibrium phase (Teq) for to each injection protocol were analyzed. RESULTS: Alterations in contrast material volume, injection rate, and concentration had significant impact on contrast enhancement of the liver. With increasing volume of contrast medium, Imax, Tmax, and Teq of aorta, portal vein, and liver increased (p < 0.005). With increasing rate of injection, on the other hand, Imax of aorta and liver increased (p < 0.05), but Tmax and Teq decreased (p < 0.005). Change of concentration of contrast medium had a significant effect on Imax of vessels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Maximum contrast enhancement of liver and vessels was influenced mainly by injection volume of contrast medium and the time to peak enhancement by injection rate of contrast medium. Under given amounts of contrast medium, therefore, the strategy of increasing volume by dilution and faster injection might give better Imax values without penalty for the duration of an optimal temporal window (Tmax and Teq).