Contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic spoke-wheel sign in hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia.
BACKGROUND
To determine the utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in assessing hepatic tumors with central feeding arteries found by color/power Doppler ultrasonograophy (CDUS/PDUS).


METHODS
We prospectively studied 37 hepatic tumors (34 patients), with a mean size of 2.9cm and each having a central feeding artery, by CDUS/PDUS. The CEUS was performed with a galactose-based microbubble contrast agent. The detection of a spoke-wheel sign was interpreted as evidence of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH). All patients underwent tumor biopsies or surgical resection.


RESULTS
CEUS showed a central feeding artery with a spoke-wheel sign in 36 tumors, including 34 FNHs and 2 hepatocellular carcinomas. The remaining tumor was demonstrated to be FNH despite the absence of a spoke-wheel sign as detected by CEUS. The sensitivity of the spoke-wheel sign or central scar for FNH was 97.1% (34/35), 40% (14/35), 28.6% (10/35), 50% (8/16) and 0% (0/15) for CEUS, CDUS/PDUS, dynamic computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hepatic angiography and liver scintigraphy, respectively. The two hepatocellular carcinomas showed scirrhous changes histologically.


CONCLUSIONS
CEUS is more sensitive than CDUS/PDUS, dynamic CT, MRI, hepatic angiography and liver scintigraphy in the detection of the spoke-wheel sign or central scar in FNH. Scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for liver tumors with spoke-wheel sign detected by CEUS.
Yen
Yi-Hao
YH
Division of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
Wang
Jing-Houng
JH
Lu
Sheng-Nan
SN
Chen
Tai-Yi
TY
Changchien
Chi-Sin
CS
Chen
Chien-Hung
CH
Hung
Chao-Hung
CH
Lee
Chuan-Mo
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; C059891:SHU 508