title: Power Doppler imaging and evaluation of the resistive index in focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver.
abstract: Focal lesions of the liver represent a significant diagnostic problem for various imaging modalities. The aim of this study was to assess the value of power Doppler sonography versus conventional color Doppler imaging in the depiction of hypervascular focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver and to investigate the resistive index (RI) in the lesions' feeding arteries. Eighteen histologically proved FNHs in 14 patients were evaluated by gray-scale ultrasound, conventional color Doppler, and power Doppler sonography. With conventional color Doppler, a feeding arterial vessel could be depicted in only 4/18 lesions and hypervascularization was detected in 6/18 lesions. Power Doppler was more sensitive in detecting feeding arteries (16/18) within hypervascular lesions (15/18). RI values in the feeding arteries (mean = 0.51) significantly differed from those in the main hepatic artery or its intraparenchymal branches (mean = 0.68) in the same patient. The mean RI-difference was 0.19, suggesting hemodynamically significant arteriovenous shunting. Power Doppler sonography significantly increases sensitivity in the diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver and reliably permits the distinction of these lesions from hepatocellular carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uggowitzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kugler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Machan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gröll
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stauber
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mischinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ratschek
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fotter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology