Comparison of contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound (Levovist) and computed tomography in alveolar echinococcosis.
BACKGROUND
To date, no study has compared unenhanced and contrast-enhanced (Levovist) power Doppler ultrasound with three-phase helical computed tomography (CT) for the analysis of the vascularization of hepatic lesions in patients who have alveolar echinococcosis.


METHODS
Fifteen patients (11 female and four male; average age, 45.8 years) with confirmed Echinococcus multilocularis infection underwent unenhanced and contrast-enhanced (Levovist) power Doppler ultrasound (2- to 5-MHz transducer head) and three-phase helical CT. The largest identified lesion in each patient was studied.


RESULTS
CT visualized vascularization peripheral or central to the largest echinococcal lesions in 11 of 15 patients. Vascularization in the area of the echinococcal lesions was not visualized by unenhanced or contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound in any of the 15 patients studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-phase helical CT visualizes the vascularization associated with Echinococcus multilocularis lesions in the liver. Neither unenhanced nor contrast-enhanced ultrasound in power mode is suitable for this application.
Kratzer
W
W
Abteilung Innere Medizin I, Universität Ulm, Robert-Koch-Strasse 8, D-89081 Ulm, Germany. wolfgang.kratzer@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Reuter
S
S
Hirschbuehl
K
K
Ehrhardt
A R
AR
Mason
R A
RA
Haenle
M M
MM
Kern
P
P
Gabelmann
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508