Hepatocellular adenoma: color Doppler US and pathologic correlations.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the color Doppler ultrasound (US) features of hepatocellular adenoma (HA) and correlate these findings with pathologic findings, with special emphasis on the blood vessels.


METHODS
Color Doppler US was prospectively performed in eight patients with histologic proof of HA. Eleven lesions were studied.


RESULTS
In seven lesions, color Doppler US demonstrated central color flow. In six of these lesions, pulse-wave Doppler US demonstrated a continuous and flat venous spectrum with frequency shifts of 0.20-0.60 kHz (mean, 0.37 kHz), which corresponded to pathologic findings of intratumoral veins 1-5 mm in diameter. The other lesion with central color flow demonstrated a triphasic venous waveform with 1.20-kHz frequency shift, which corresponded pathologically to a central vein 10 mm in diameter. In these seven lesions, color Doppler examination demonstrated both venous and arterial peritumoral flow.


CONCLUSIONS
Color Doppler US enables detection of intratumoral veins associated with peritumoral veins and arteries in patients with HA; these findings correlate well with pathologic data. These results might help in the differential diagnosis of HA and focal nodular hyperplasia.
Golli
M
M
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Van Nhieu
J T
JT
Mathieu
D
D
Zafrani
E S
ES
Cherqui
D
D
Dhumeaux
D
D
Vasile
N
N
Rahmouni
A
A
D018248:Adenoma, Liver Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods