title: Doppler perfusion index and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of the Doppler perfusion index (DPI) and contrast agent for the detection of liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  DPI was measured in 18 patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases and 18 control subjects. Sixteen patients were underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  patients with liver metastases had significantly greater DPI than control group (0.39 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.07, p < 0.05). Sixteen liver metastasis lesions underwent a rapid wash-out of contrast agent during the portal venous phase followed by a complete wash-out of SonoVue during the sinusoidal phase and were differentiated as "fast-in and fast-out" contrast enhancement patter. Another 3 lesions which were not found by baseline ultrasonography were detected to be enhancement defects at sinusoidal phases by CEUS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DPI is a sensitive index in detection of colorectal liver metastases; if used combined with contrast agent, much more occult liver metastasis would be detected by ultrasonography.
authors.forename: Litao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Shengzhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ai
authors.forename: Qiaoling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jinru
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride