Contrast-enhanced, wide-band phase-inversion power Doppler imaging of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether examination of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia by wide-band, phase-inversion sonography offers any advantages over power and color Doppler sonography in the depiction of specific characteristics of these pathologies.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients were examined. The presence of focal nodular hyperplasia was confirmed by ultrasound-guided biopsy, surgical resection, dynamic helical computed tomography or magnetic resonance. All patients, prior to enhanced sonography, had undergone B-mode gray-scale sonography, color Doppler, and power Doppler examinations. After injection of 2.5 g of Levovist intravenously, analysis of the contrast agent arrival was performed by wide-band, phase-inversion power Doppler sonography.


RESULTS
The B-mode gray-scale sonography, color and power Doppler sonography were non-specific for focal nodular hyperplasia in 14 cases in our examination. However based on the wide-band, phase-inversion power Doppler sonography findings all patients with focal nodular hyperplasia were diagnosed. All typical anatomic features of focal nodular hyperplasia such as "star sign" or "spoke-wheel" pattern were clearly visible. In 3 cases, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging had failed to disclose pathology while phase-inversion sonographic images were completely suggestive which was later finally confirmed by histologic examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrate the usefulness of wide-band, phase-inversion power Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia by visualizing all characteristic anatomic details.
Janica
Jacek
J
Department of Radiology, Medical University of Bialystok, Poland.
Wojciech
Serwatka
S
Dolorzycki
Slawomir
S
Polakow
Jerzy
J
Walecki
Jerzy
J
Ladny
Jerzy Robert
JR
Laszewicz
Wiktor
W
D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media