Power Doppler sonography of hepatocellular carcinomas with portal-vein blood supply.
We report the power Doppler imaging (PDI) findings in 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a portal-vein blood supply. Gray-scale sonography in both cases showed a well-circumscribed nodule, hypoechoic in case 1 and hyperechoic in case 2. PDI revealed an afferent tumor vessel with constant flow in both nodules, and CT during arterial portography demonstrated a portal-vein supply to both nodules. The nodules were diagnosed by percutaneous core biopsies as highly differentiated HCC. We also examined with PDI another 64 patients with 76 HCC nodules, and none of the nodules showed a constant-flow afferent tumor vessel. The presence of a constant-flow afferent tumor vessel indicates a supplying portal vein; but this is not diagnostic of HCC, and biopsy remains necessary to establish a final diagnosis.
Tohara
K
K
Department of Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, 377-1 Zokumyoin, Chikushino 818-8502, Japan.
Sakaguchi
S
S
Miyajima
Y
Y
Yao
T
T
Ono
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler