Is iron oxide a tissue-specific contrast medium in diagnostic ultrasound? A case report.

We present a patient with Hodgkin's disease in whom computed tomography suggested focal lesions in the liver. As no lesions were detected by diagnostic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with iron oxide as contrast medium was performed for verification. MRI confirmed at least 3 small lesions. The ultrasound study performed immediately after this MRI scan easily detected these lesions. A biopsy was taken and histology showed infiltrates of Hodgkin's disease. The change in echogenicity of the liver and/or the lymphomatous tissue may be an effect of iron oxide. This observation has not been reported before.