[Diagnosis of atypical liver abscesses with real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of real-time harmonic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of atypical liver abscesses.


METHODS
We used Technos DU8 system with CEUS technique to examine 32 patients with suspected liver masses. Mechanical index was set at 0.08- 0.11. The contrast agent SonoVue was injected as a bolus (2.4 ml, < 5s) in the antecubital vein.


RESULTS
A total of 36 lesions were studied in 32 patients, including 30 patients with single nodule and 2 patients with multiple nodules. All lesions with liver abscess were confirmed by biopsy. The whole-enhanced pattern in all lesions was clearly displayed in the arterial phase after the administration of SonoVue. The mean time of the beginning enhancement was (14.48 +/- 3.62) s, the mean peak enhancement time was (22.92 +/- 4.35) s, and the mean time of hypoechoic appearance of lesion was (80.30 +/- 35.30) s. The lesions with hypoechoic pattern (37.5%, 12/32) and isoechoic pattern (62.5%, 20/32) in the portal phase were detected by CEUS. The characteristic sign with honeycomb pattern on CEUS was shown in 30 (93.8%) liver abscess lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
CEUS is valuable in the diagnosis of atypical liver abscesses.
Wang
Wen-Ping
WP
Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. puguang61@126.com
Li
Chao-Lun
CL
Ji
Zheng-Biao
ZB
Yuan
Hai-Xia
HX
Ding
Hong
H
Huang
Bei-Jian
BJ
D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media