Real-time temporal maximum-intensity-projection imaging of hepatic lesions with contrast-enhanced sonography.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to perform a preliminary evaluation of temporal maximum intensity projection (MIP) of focal hepatic masses in selected patients. The technique processes real-time contrast-enhanced sonography images by integrating the path of moving bubbles to depict vascular morphology. Following a high-intensity ultrasound pulse that disrupts bubbles within the scan plane, MIP images the trajectories of fresh bubbles replenishing the plane and revealing their course.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular morphology is depicted at a level or detail not seen before with sonography. High-frame-rate sequences of less than one second uniquely show arterial structure in liver lesions.
Wilson
Stephanie R
SR
Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jang
Hyun-Jung
HJ
Kim
Tae Kyoung
TK
Iijima
Hiroko
H
Kamiyama
Naohisa
N
Burns
Peter N
PN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C042852:perflutren