Comparative diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosis of hepatic hemangiomas.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the value of intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (US), intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of hepatic hemangiomas.


METHODS
The study enrolled 48 patients, aged between 20 and 79 years (35 [72.9%] women, 13 [27.1%] men; mean age, 53.5+/-12.855 years), who were examined and treated in the Departments of Gastroenterology, Surgery, and Oncology, Hospital of Kaunas University of Medicine, in the year 2007. All patients underwent intravenous contrast-enhanced US, intravenous contrast-enhanced CT, and MRI and were diagnosed with hepatic hemangioma according to the findings of these examinations.


RESULTS
The size of hemangiomas was < or =2.0 cm in 20 cases (41.7%) and >2.0 cm in 28 (58.3%). No association between hepatic hemangioma and patient's age was found (chi(2)=0.547, df=2, P=0.761). Nearly one-third of hemangiomas were located in the segment IV of the left hepatic lobe. There were a few complicated hemangiomas in the study sample: 2 with calcification and 1 with necrosis. The sensitivity of CT in the diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma was 76.92%; specificity, 33.3%; positive prognostic value, 83.3%; and negative prognostic value, 25.0%. The sensitivity of intravenous contrast-enhanced US in the diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma was 77.8%; specificity, 100%; positive prognostic value, 100%; and negative prognostic value, 23.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous contrast-enhanced US is more specific than intravenous contrast-enhanced CT in the diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma (P=0.0005) and has a higher positive prognostic value (P=0.001).
Zviniene
Kristina
K
Department of Radiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eiveniu 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. kristinazviniene@gmail.com
Zaboriene
Inga
I
Basevicius
Algidas
A
Jurkiene
Nemira
N
Barauskas
Giedrius
G
Pundzius
Juozas
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003287:Contrast Media; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride