title: Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma using digital subtraction imaging with the contrast agent, Levovist: comparison with helical CT, digital subtraction angiography, and US angiography.
abstract: Digital subtraction imaging was compared to helical CT, DSA, and US angiography to assess its usefulness in the evaluation of vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Digital subtraction imaging using Levovist as the contrast agent was performed in 41 patients with 43 nodules (22 men and 19 women, aged 50 to 83 years; mean age, 65 years; mean maximum tumor diameter, 27.8+/-17.1 mm). Digital subtraction imaging showed hypervascular enhancement in 39 of the 43 nodules (91%). Helical CT showed areas of high attenuation in 40 of the 43 nodules (93%), while DSA and US angiography showed positive enhancement in 38 and 43 of the 43 nodules (88% and 100%), respectively. Digital subtraction imaging is useful for evaluating vascularity in HCC when the tumor can be visualized with non-enhanced US angiography.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiraki
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: Kazushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohmori
authors.forename: Kazumoto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Atsuya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508