[Harmonic imaging for improving diagnosis of liver tumors--preliminary report].
Contrast harmonic imaging (CHI) is a new Doppler technology using the non-linear properties of ultrasound contrast agents.


OBJECTIVE
In this pilot study contrast harmonic imaging was evaluated for the detection and characterization of liver lesions.


METHODS
Tumor vascularity patterns and diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions were compared in 50 liver lesions using gray-scale sonography, unenhanced and enhanced power Doppler sonography and CHI. In addition, CHI was compared to spiral-CT for the detection of liver metastases in 28 patients.


RESULTS
CHI was superior to power Doppler sonography in the visualization of vascularity pattern. Due to the better resolution and image quality of tumor vascularity the diagnostic accuracy of CHI in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions was higher (88% CHI versus 40% unenhanced power Doppler, and 58% contrast-enhanced power Doppler). In the detection of liver metastasis CHI showed a higher sensitivity (96.8%) compared to spiral-CT (74.6%) in 28 patients with 63 metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
CHI is a promising new ultrasound technology to further improve the differential diagnosis of liver lesions and the detection of metastases.
Strobel
D
D
Medizinische Klinik I mit Poliklinik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. deike.strobel@med1.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Hahn
E G
EG
Becker
D
D
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; C099458:FS 069; D005466:Fluorocarbons