| Theme |
Imaging Diagnostics of Liver Disease |
| Title |
Ultrasonography -- Screening Method for Hepatic Tumors, using B Mode Echo |
| Author |
Yoshio Tanaka |
Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka-Minami National Hospital |
| Author |
Taizo Hijioka |
Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka-Minami National Hospital |
| Author |
Yutaka Sasaki |
Department of Molecular Therapeutics, Osaka University School of Medicine / Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
In order to detect smaller hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs), we need to perform ultrasonography(US) periodically on patients with chronic liver disease, caused by the hepatitis C or hepatitis B virus infections. The principle purpose of US is to detect nodular lesions in the liver. Furthermore, US is also useable for diagnosing HCCs when such nodular lesions exhibit typical echo patterns, including halos, mosaic patterns, and/or nodule in nodule. However, it is difficult to distinguish HCCs from other nonmalignant hepatocellular nodules, when nodular lesions display hyper echoic or hypoechoic patterns. Although CTAP(CT during arterial portography) is one of the most sensitive techniques available for detecting hemodynamic change, small hepatic nodular lesions detected using US can not always be detected with CTAP. Biopsy may be advisable for nodules detected under these conditions. |