Power versus conventional color Doppler sonography: comparison in the depiction of vasculature in liver tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To compare power and conventional color Doppler sonography in the depiction of the intratumoral vasculature of hemangiomas, hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), and metastases of the liver.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with liver tumors (12 hemangiomas, 11 HCCs, and nine metastases) were prospectively evaluated with power and conventional color Doppler sonography by using a 2-4-MHz convex probe with 2-MHz Doppler frequency. Power Doppler sonography was performed with a 75%-88% gain. Conventional color Doppler sonography was performed with a 55%-75% gain and a pulse repetition frequency of 700 Hz. Power Doppler signals and color Doppler signals interrogated in one plane were analyzed by two radiologists, who subjectively rated power Doppler sonography as superior, equal, or inferior to color Doppler sonography.


RESULTS
Overall, power Doppler sonography was superior to color Doppler sonography in 18 patients and equal in 14 (P < .01). In hemangiomas, power Doppler sonography was superior to color Doppler sonography in 10 patients and equal in two (P < .01). In HCCs, power Doppler sonography was superior to color Doppler sonography in four patients and equal in seven (P > .05). In metastases, power Doppler sonography was superior to color Doppler sonography in four patients and equal in five (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Power Doppler sonography is more sensitive than color Doppler sonography in the depiction of the vasculature of liver tumors, particularly in hemangiomas.
Choi
B I
BI
Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Yongon-Dong, Chongno-Gu, Korea.
Kim
T K
TK
Han
J K
JK
Chung
J W
JW
Park
J H
JH
Han
M C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color