Contrast-enhanced agent detection imaging: Early experience in hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging in assessing intratumoral vasculature in hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
Fourteen hepatocellular carcinoma nodules in 11 patients were studied with contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging, a wide-band color Doppler imaging method, employing, Levovist(®), a microbubble contrast agent. High acoustic power was used with contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging. Intermittent transmission of Agent Detection Imaging was performed at intervals of 200, 500, and 350 milliseconds in the early arterial phase (10 to 40 seconds), late vascular phase (1 to 3 minutes) and postvascular phase (5 to 7 minutes), respectively. The results were compared with those of three-phase dynamic CT.


RESULTS
Intratumoral blood vessels in the early arterial phase and tumor parenchymal stain in the late vascular phase were depicted in 12 (88%) of the 14 hepatocellular carcinoma nodules, while all nodules were demonstrated as perfusion defect in the postvascular phase on contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging. The results of Agent Detection Imaging, that were compared with those of dynamic CT, were all 100% : diagnostic sensitivity (12/12), specificity (2/2), and accurary (14/14).


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced Agent Detection Imaging is a promising method for depicting intratumoral vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.|Department of Ultrasound Sun Yut-Sen, University of Medical Science Memorial Hospital, 107 Yanjiangxi Rd, 510120, Guangzhou, China.
Yan Ling
YL
Wen
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Masatoshi
M
Kudo
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Yasunori
Y
Minami
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Hobyung
H
Chung
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Yoichiro
Y
Suetomi
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Hirokazu
H
Onda
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Masayuki
M
Kitano
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Toshihiko
T
Kawasaki
Abdominal Ultrasound Unit, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-higashi, 589-8511, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan.
Kiyoshi
K
Maekawa
Doppler imaging; contrast medium; hepatocellular carcinoma; ultrasound; wide-band color