Heterogeneous delayed enhancement of the liver after ultrasound contrast agent injection--a normal variant.
We report a characteristic heterogeneous delayed liver enhancement pattern that we have encountered in a total of 6 of approximately 1500 subjects who underwent contrast-enhanced liver ultrasonography. The heterogeneous enhancement occurred several min after contrast injection and persisted for up to 1 h. It was seen in diseased as well as healthy livers and appears to represent a "normal variant" of liver enhancement. It was observed with two different contrast agents. The cause of the described effect is unknown; it may be related to the formation of large bubbles and vascular entrapment of these bubbles in the liver.
Okada
Masahiro
M
Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Albrecht
Thomas
T
Blomley
Martin J
MJ
Heckemann
Rolf A
RA
Cosgrove
David O
DO
Wolf
Karl-Jürgen
KJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D010420:Pentanes
D003287:Contrast Media; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; C420843:contrast agent BR1; C008806:perfluoropentane; D010420:Pentanes