title: Comparison of contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography and power Doppler ultrasonography for depicting vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma identified by angiography-assisted CT.
abstract: The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale imaging was compared with that of power Doppler sonography in depicting tumor vascularity and contrast enhancement of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) identified by angiography-assisted computed tomography (CT). One hundred thirty-nine classic HCC nodules (108 patients), each appearing as a high-attenuation mass on early-phase CT during hepatic arteriography and as a perfusion defect on CT during arterial portography, were evaluated. Vascular findings and contrast enhancement patterns were evaluated by contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale imaging. Arterial pulsatile flow into each nodule was checked by power Doppler sonography. Sensitivity of each modality for depicting tumor vascularity was examined by angiography-assisted CT findings as the gold standard. The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale imaging (134/139, 96.4%) was significantly greater than that of power Doppler sonography (96/139, 69.1%) (P<0.05). Twenty-six of twenty-seven nodules (96.3%) in the lateral segment, in which motion artifact is likely, were enhanced by contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale imaging. Contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale imaging is more sensitive than power Doppler sonography and is a noninvasive method that can be used as effectively as angiography-assisted CT to evaluate tumor vessels and contrast enhancement of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, 4-86 Minaminokawa, Ogaki, 503-8502, Gifu, Japan
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumada
authors.forename: Seiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiriyama
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sone
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hisanaga
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: Sadanobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawachi
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hibi
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katano
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto