| Theme |
Imaging Diagnostics of Liver Disease |
| Title |
Diagnosis of Hepatic Tumors with Color Doppler Sonography and Power Doppler Sonography |
| Author |
Kunio Suzuki |
Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Rosai Hospital (Shinsenri Hospital) |
| Author |
Moritoshi Yamamoto |
Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Rosai Hospital |
| Author |
Harumasa Yoshihara |
Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Rosai Hospital |
| Author |
Takenobu Kamada |
Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka Rosai Hospital |
| Author |
Masashi Nagatomo |
Division of Abdominal Ultrasound, Osaka Rosai Hospital |
| Author |
Mutsuhiro Yamaguchi |
Division of Abdominal Ultrasound, Osaka Rosai Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Color Doppler sonography and power Doppler sonography are useful in the evaluation of blood flow in hepatic tumors. Nevertheless, both modalities lack sufficient sensitivity to detect very small blood flows, although power Doppler sonography is more sensitive than color Doppler sonography. Recently, the intravenous sonographic contrast agent Levovist(R), has become commercially available. Contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography is more sensitive in detecting flow signals in small hepatic tumors than conventional power Doppler sonography. The authors also evaluated the usefulness of a newly developed technique, using a contrast agent, the contrast harmonic power Doppler(CHPD). CHPD is more sensitive than dynamic-enhanced CT in detecting flow signals in small hepatocellular carcinomas(HCC). HCC can be classified into two groups according to the blood flow pattern seen with CHPD; one having a vascular pattern and the other having diffuse patterns. HCCs with vascular patterns are better differentiated histologicaly compared to those with diffuse patterns. CHPD can also characterize blood flow in other hepatic tumors, such as liver adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and metastatic hepatic tumors. Ultrasound, with the administration of Levovist(R) seems to be a promising diagnostic modality for hepatic tumors. |