title: Enhanced color flow images in small hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Features of enhanced color flow images in small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristic vascular images in small HCC observed by enhanced color Doppler.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enhanced color Doppler using the contrast agent Levovist was performed on 13 patients with HCC smaller than 30 mm. Enhanced color flow appearance was compared with angiographic findings. Time-intensity changes after injection of the contrast agent were analyzed in HCC nodules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant improvement in the detection of color flow signals was obtained in small HCC using Levovist, from 33% in precontrast to 92% in postcontrast (p < 0.005). Three patterns of enhanced color flow images, which were related to the angiographic findings, were observed. The time-intensity curve was classified into two types by "time to peak" and "time on plateau" and was associated with the patterns of enhanced images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhanced color flow imaging promises to be a useful method for evaluating tumor vascularity noninvasively and to contribute to the elucidation of the hemodynamics in small HCC.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Chiba University School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba-City, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsutani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mitsuhashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saisho
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508