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Published in:

01-10-2015

Use of vessel patterns on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using a perflubutane-based contrast agent for the differential diagnosis of regenerative nodules from early hepatocellular carcinoma or high-grade dysplastic nodules in patients with chronic liver disease

Authors: Kazushi Numata, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Hiromi Nihonmatsu, Masaaki Kondo, Akito Nozaki, Makoto Chuma, Manabu Morimoto, Takashi Oshima, Masahiro Okada, Takamichi Murakami, Shigeo Takebayashi, Shin Maeda, Yoshiaki Inayama, Masayuki Nakano, Katsuaki Tanaka

Published in: Abdominal Radiology | Issue 7/2015

Abstract

Objective

We evaluated the use of tumor vessel patterns observed during arterial-phase contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (US) to differentiate regenerative nodules (RN) from early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or high-grade dysplastic nodules (HGDN) in patients with chronic liver disease.

Subjects and methods

Pathologically confirmed lesions (83 early HCC, 6 HGDN, and 13 RN with mean maximal diameters of 15.4, 15.3, and 16.2 mm, respectively) were enrolled in this retrospective study. We performed contrast-enhanced US using a perflubutane-based contrast agent. We then classified the tumor vessels observed during the arterial phase of contrast-enhanced US into two patterns: peripheral vessels (centripetal pattern) and central vessels (centrifugal pattern).

Results

Eighty-one (97.6%) of the 83 early HCC exhibited various enhancement patterns (hypovascular, 44.6%; isovascular, 25.3%; and hypervascular, 27.7%) and a peripheral vessel pattern, while the remaining 2 lesions (2.4%) exhibited hypovascular enhancement and a central vessel pattern. All 6 HGDN lesions were hypovascular with a peripheral vessel pattern. Twelve (92.3%) of the 13 RN were hypovascular with a central vessel pattern, and the remaining one (7.7%) was hypervascular with a central vessel pattern. When lesions exhibiting a central vessel pattern during arterial-phase contrast-enhanced US were diagnosed as RN, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of these diagnoses were 100%, 97.8%, and 98.0%, respectively.

Conclusion

The tumor vessel patterns observed during arterial-phase contrast-enhanced US may be useful for differentiating RN from early HCC or HGDN in patients with chronic liver disease.

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Title: Use of vessel patterns on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using a perflubutane-based contrast agent for the differential diagnosis of regenerative nodules from early hepatocellular carcinoma or high-grade dysplastic nodules in patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Kazushi Numata
Hiroyuki Fukuda
Hiromi Nihonmatsu
Masaaki Kondo
Akito Nozaki
Makoto Chuma
Manabu Morimoto
Takashi Oshima
Masahiro Okada
Takamichi Murakami
Shigeo Takebayashi
Shin Maeda
Yoshiaki Inayama
Masayuki Nakano
Katsuaki Tanaka
Publication date: 01-10-2015
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Abdominal Radiology / Issue 7/2015
Print ISSN: 2366-004X
Electronic ISSN: 2366-0058
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-015-0489-6

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Use of vessel patterns on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using a perflubutane-based contrast agent for the differential diagnosis of regenerative nodules from early hepatocellular carcinoma or high-grade dysplastic nodules in patients with chronic liver disease

Abstract

Objective

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

Objective

Subjects and methods

Results

Conclusion

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