title: Evaluation of focal hepatic lesions with ultrasound contrast agents.
abstract: Ultrasound contrast agents have gained wide acceptance for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. This pictorial essay reviews the growing body of evidence that supports the use of modern ultrasound contrast agents and illustrates the enhancement characteristics of commonly encountered focal liver lesions. Pathologies discussed include metastases, hepatocellular carcinomas, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatocellular adenomas, hemangiomas, abscesses, complex cysts, and focal fatty deposition.
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Department, St. Vincent's Hospital, 55 Victoria Pde Fitzroy 3065, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia 3065.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.forename: Faye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.forename: Wai-Kit
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hennessy
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media