Deike Strobel1, Sabine Raeker, Peter Martus, Eckhart Georg Hahn, Dirk Becker. 1. Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, Department of Medicine I, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. deike.strobel@med1.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We compared contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography (CEPD) and phase-inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in the assessment of liver lesion vascularity and characterization of focal liver lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 101 focal liver lesions by CEPD and PIHI using Optison as echo-enhancing agent. Amount and architecture of lesion vascularity and the kinetics of contrast enhancement in the lesions were analyzed. A tumor diagnosis was assessed after each examination. RESULTS: Analysis of tumor vascularity was not possible in 30 liver lesions (30%) due to motion or blooming artifacts by CEPD. Vascularity was detected in 61% of liver lesions by CEPD and in 95% by PIHI. PIHI identified significantly more tumor vascularity pattern (93%) than CEPD (57%). Specific lesion diagnosis based on PIHI led to correct results in 92% compared to 59% by CEPD. CONCLUSION: PIHI is highly efficient in detecting tumor vascularity and is superior to CEPD in characterizing focal liver lesions.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We compared contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography (CEPD) and phase-inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in the assessment of liver lesion vascularity and characterization of focal liver lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 101 focal liver lesions by CEPD and PIHI using Optison as echo-enhancing agent. Amount and architecture of lesion vascularity and the kinetics of contrast enhancement in the lesions were analyzed. A tumor diagnosis was assessed after each examination. RESULTS: Analysis of tumor vascularity was not possible in 30 liver lesions (30%) due to motion or blooming artifacts by CEPD. Vascularity was detected in 61% of liver lesions by CEPD and in 95% by PIHI. PIHI identified significantly more tumor vascularity pattern (93%) than CEPD (57%). Specific lesion diagnosis based on PIHI led to correct results in 92% compared to 59% by CEPD. CONCLUSION: PIHI is highly efficient in detecting tumor vascularity and is superior to CEPD in characterizing focal liver lesions.