Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings with emphasis on lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) with lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity and to compare CEUS with baseline US.


METHODS
Two radiologists evaluated baseline US and CEUS examinations of 92 FNHs (mean size: 3.1 +/- 1.7 cm) in 71 patients (59 women and 12 men) to detect the "spoke-wheel" sign, central scar and feeding vessel. The FNHs were grouped and analysed by dimension, depth and liver echogenicity.


RESULTS
At least one sign could be detected at CEUS in 27 out of 36 (75%) FNHs larger than 3 cm and in 17 out of 56 (30%) FNH measuring 3 cm or less (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were noted between lesion depth or liver echogenicity and detection rate of these signs at CEUS (p > 0.05) as well as between CEUS or baseline US/CD with regard to lesion size, depth or liver echogenicity (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The detection rate of the central scar and spoke-wheel sign in FNH at CEUS is strongly dependent on lesion size and CEUS can confidently diagnose most FNHs larger than 3 cm.
Bartolotta
Tommaso Vincenzo
TV
Department of Radiology, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy. tv.bartolotta@unipa.it
Taibbi
Adele
A
Matranga
Domenica
D
Malizia
Giovanni
G
Lagalla
Roberto
R
Midiri
Massimo
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010743:Phospholipids; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
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