Evaluation of blood flow signal in small hepatic nodules by color Doppler ultrasonography.
Small hepatic nodular lesions are frequently detected by ultrasonography in patients with liver cirrhosis during follow-up. However, hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and non-HCC nodules are difficult to differentiate by ultrasonography because they have a similar appearance. We used color Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) to examine 29 HCCs and 26 non-HCC nodules less than 2 cm in diameter to determine whether CDU can be used to differentiate small hepatic nodules. There were no significant differences between the examined HCCs and non-HCC nodules with regard to ultrasonographic appearance, i.e., hypoechoicity or hyperechoicity. Blood flow signals were detected in a significantly higher percentage of HCCs (13 of 29, 44.8%) than in non-HCC nodules (2 of 26, 7.7%; P<0.005), although the sensitivity was low. Therefore, we classified nodules as hypoechoic or hyperechoic by B-mode ultrasonography and examined their blood flow signals. Among nodules that were hypoechoic, signals were detected in a significantly higher percentage of HCCs (12 of 18, 66.7%) than in non-HCC nodules (2 of 13, 15.4%; P<0.005). In contrast, among hyperechoic nodules, signals were detected in only 1 of 11 (9.1%) HCCs and in 0 of 13 non-HCC nodules. Our results suggest that examination of blood flow by CDU is useful for differentiating small hepatic nodules, especially hypoechoic nodules.
Department of Gastrointestinal Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba.
J
J
Furuse
M
M
Iwasaki
M
M
Yoshino
M
M
Konishi
N
N
Kawano
T
T
Kinoshita
M
M
Ryu
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color