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Published in: European Radiology 6/2004

01-06-2004 | Hepatobiliary–Pancreas

Qualitative assessment of tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma by contrast-enhanced coded ultrasound: comparison with arterial phase of dynamic CT and conventional color/power Doppler ultrasound

Authors: Masahiko Koda, Yoshiko Matsunaga, Masaru Ueki, Yoshiko Maeda, Ken-ichi Mimura, Kinya Okamoto, Keiko Hosho, Yoshikazu Murawaki

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 6/2004

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detection rate of tumor vessels and vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by contrast-enhanced coded US using Levovist, and to compare with conventional color/power Doppler US (CDUS) and dynamic CT. Ninety nodules (72 hypo/isoechoic nodules, 18 hyperechoic nodules) in 61 patients were studied. We observed tumor vessels by continuous transmission at the early vascular phase (40 s following administration of Levovist) and vascularity by intermittent transmission (intervals of 2–3 s) at the late vascular phase (40 to approximately 120 s). The detection rate of tumor vessels at the early vascular phase was 97% in hypo/isoechoic nodules and 70% in hyperechoic nodules with high density in dynamic CT being higher than that by CDUS. Tumor vascularity at the late vascular phase in hypo/isoechoic and hyperechoic nodules was hyper-enhancement in 78 and 40%, iso-enhancement in 19 and 40%, and hypo-enhancement in 3 and 0%, respectively. The detection rates of tumor vessels and vascularity in hyperechoic nodules were similar to those by CDUS. The detection rates of tumor vessels and vascularity were not affected by the tumor size in HCC tumors with high density in dynamic CT. Contrast-enhanced US with Levovist was superior to CDUS and equal to dynamic CT to assess tumor vessels in hypo/isoechoic nodules. Although it was equal to CDUS for hyperechoic nodules, this modality is useful in evaluating tumor hemodynamics.
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Metadata
Title
Qualitative assessment of tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma by contrast-enhanced coded ultrasound: comparison with arterial phase of dynamic CT and conventional color/power Doppler ultrasound
Authors
Masahiko Koda
Yoshiko Matsunaga
Masaru Ueki
Yoshiko Maeda
Ken-ichi Mimura
Kinya Okamoto
Keiko Hosho
Yoshikazu Murawaki
Publication date
01-06-2004
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 6/2004
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-003-2172-5

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