Small hepatocellular carcinoma: differentiation from adenomatous hyperplastic nodule with color Doppler flow imaging.
Liver nodules smaller than 25 mm in diameter (19 hepatocellular carcinomas [HCCs] and nine adenomatous hyperplastic nodules [AHNs]) were examined with color Doppler flow imaging and hepatic angiography. Angiography revealed a tumor vessel in eight (42%) of the 19 HCCs, while color Doppler flow imaging revealed an arterial pulsating afferent tumor vessel in 10 (53%) of the 19 HCCs but in none of the AHNs. In addition, color Doppler flow imaging revealed a constant-flow efferent tumor vessel continuing to a portal branch in 10 (53%) of the 19 HCCs but in none of the AHNs. In 15 (79%) of the 19 HCCs, a pulsating afferent tumor vessel or a constant-flow efferent tumor vessel or both were observed. Therefore, in this series, color Doppler flow imaging was of value in distinguishing between these two lesions.
Tanaka
S
S
Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, Japan.
Kitamra
T
T
Fujita
M
M
Kasugai
H
H
Inoue
A
A
Ishiguro
S
S
D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods