BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of performance of wideband, phase inversion harmonic power Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of focal nodular. MATERIAL/ METHODS: During a period of one year, thirty-one patients with FNH previously confirmed by ultrasound-guided biopsy, surgical resection, dynamic helical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging were examined. The study protocol consisted of B-mode gray scale sonography, color Doppler, power Doppler examinations, and helical CT scans. Then PI scans were performed after the injection of 2.5 g of Levovist intravenously. RESULTS: The images obtained by the B-mode gray scale were typical for focal nodular hyperplasia in 13 lesions only (32.5%), and obtained by color, power Doppler sonography in 25 lesions (62%). On the contrary all patients with focal nodular hyperplasia were diagnosed based on the wide-band, phase inversion power Doppler sonography findings. The common enhancement pattern at pulseinversion harmonic US was filling in a central tumor artery with further centrifugal development of contrast. Then during early arterial phase, all typical anatomical features of FNH as 'star sign 'or 'spoke-wheel 'pattern were clearly visible .In 3 cases ,computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have failed to disclose pathology while phase inversion sonographic images were completely suggestive which was later confirmed by histologic examination. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrates the usefulness of wide-band, phase inversion harmonic power Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia by visualizing all characteristic anatomical details.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of performance of wideband, phase inversion harmonic power Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of focal nodular. MATERIAL/ METHODS: During a period of one year, thirty-one patients with FNH previously confirmed by ultrasound-guided biopsy, surgical resection, dynamic helical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging were examined. The study protocol consisted of B-mode gray scale sonography, color Doppler, power Doppler examinations, and helical CT scans. Then PI scans were performed after the injection of 2.5 g of Levovist intravenously. RESULTS: The images obtained by the B-mode gray scale were typical for focal nodular hyperplasia in 13 lesions only (32.5%), and obtained by color, power Doppler sonography in 25 lesions (62%). On the contrary all patients with focal nodular hyperplasia were diagnosed based on the wide-band, phase inversion power Doppler sonography findings. The common enhancement pattern at pulseinversion harmonic US was filling in a central tumor artery with further centrifugal development of contrast. Then during early arterial phase, all typical anatomical features of FNH as 'star sign 'or 'spoke-wheel 'pattern were clearly visible .In 3 cases ,computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have failed to disclose pathology while phase inversion sonographic images were completely suggestive which was later confirmed by histologic examination. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrates the usefulness of wide-band, phase inversion harmonic power Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia by visualizing all characteristic anatomical details.