Abstract
The development of contrast agents for ultrasound has significantly extended its clinical applications, particularly in the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Real-time evaluation of the vascular phase currently can be achieved by combining new microbubble-specific methods with second-generation contrast agents. The enhancement pattern in the vascular phase combined with the behavior in the liver-specific late phase allows characterization of the most frequent focal liver lesions, with an accuracy similar to those of dynamic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
N De Jong (1997) Physics of microbubble scattering N Nanda R Schielf BB Goldberg (Eds) Advances in echo imaging using contrast enhancement. 2nd ed Kluwer Academic Lancaster, UK 39–64
P Burns (1996) ArticleTitleHarmonic imaging with ultrasound contrast agents Clin Radiol 51 50–55 Occurrence Handle8605774
P Burns SR Wilson DH Simpson (2000) ArticleTitlePulse inversion imaging of liver blood flow: Improved method for characterizing focal masses with microbubble contrast Invest Radiol 35 58–71 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00004424-200001000-00007 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7gt1Gktw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10639037
C Reinhold L Hammers CR Taylor et al. (1995) ArticleTitleCharacterization of focal hepatic lesions with duplex sonographic findings in 198 patients AJR 164 1131–1135 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqB3szisV0%3D Occurrence Handle7717219
S Gaiani L Volpe F Piscaglia L Bolondi (2001) ArticleTitleVascularity of liver tumours and recent advances in Doppler ultrasound J Hepatol 34 474–482 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-8278(01)00021-6 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3jtVClsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11322212
BI Choi TK Kim JK Han et al. (1996) ArticleTitlePower versus conventional color Doppler sonography: comparison in the depiction of vasculature in liver tumors Radiology 200 55–58 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymB2MjhsVQ%3D Occurrence Handle8657945
E Leen WJ Angerson S Yarmenitis et al. (2002) ArticleTitleMulti-centre clinical study evaluating the efficacy of SonoVue (BR1), a new ultrasound contrast agent in Doppler investigation of focal hepatic lesions Eur J Radiol 42 200–206 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0720-048X(01)00457-0
S Tanaka T Ioka O Oshikawa et al. (2001) ArticleTitleDynamic sonography of hepatic tumours AJR 177 799–805 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MrhvFaqsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11566675
MJ Dill-Macky PN Burns K Khalili SR Wilson (2002) ArticleTitleFocal hepatic masses: enhancement patterns with SH U 508A and Pulse-Inversion US Radiology 222 95–102 Occurrence Handle11756711
SR Wilson PN Burns D Murdali et al. (2000) ArticleTitleHarmonic hepatic US with microbubbles contrast agent: initial experience showing improved characterisation of haemangioma, hepatocellular carcinoma and metastasis Radiology 215 147–151 Occurrence Handle10751480
E Quaia M Bertolotto L Calderan et al. (2003) ArticleTitleUS characterization of focal hepatic lesions with intermittent high-acoustic-power mode and contrast material Acad Radiol 10 739–750 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1076-6332(03)80119-8 Occurrence Handle12862283
C Nicolau M Romero L Bianchi et al. (2002) ArticleTitleCharacterization of focal liver lesions during the vascular phase after SonoVue injection [abstract] Radiology 225 (suppl 246
TK Kim BI Choi JK Han et al. (2000) ArticleTitleHepatic tumours: contrast agent–enhancement patterns with pulse-inversion harmonic US Radiology 216 411–417 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvgslSqsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10924562
MJK Blomley T Albrecht DO Cosgrove et al. (1999) ArticleTitleStimulated acoustic emission to image a late liver and spleen specific phase of Levovist in normal volunteers and patients with and without liver disease Ultrasound Med Biol 25 1341–1352 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0301-5629(99)00081-2 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c%2FptVSntQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10626621
A Von Herbay C Vogt D Haussinger (2002) ArticleTitleLate-phase pulse-inversion sonography using the contrast agent Levovist: differentiation between benign and malignant focal lesions of the liver AJR 179 1273–1279 Occurrence Handle12388513
MJK Blomley PS Sidhu DO Cosgrove et al. (2001) ArticleTitleDo different types of liver lesions differ in their uptake of the microbubble SHU508 in its late phase? Early experience Radiology 220 661–667 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3Mvotlahtw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11526264
C Yücel H Ozdemir S Gürel et al. (2002) ArticleTitleDetection and differential diagnosis of hepatic masses using pulse inversion harmonic imaging during the liver-specific late phase of contrast enhancement with Levovist J Clin Ultrasound 30 203–212 Occurrence Handle10.1002/jcu.10053 Occurrence Handle11981929
M Caremani L Lapini D Caremani U Occhini (2003) ArticleTitleSonographic diagnosis of hydatidosis: the sign of the cyst wall Eur J Ultrasound 16 217–223 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0929-8266(02)00076-9 Occurrence Handle12573791
V Villemin-Bodaghi M Zins et al. (1997) ArticleTitleImaging of atypical cysts of the liver. Study of 26 surgically treated cases Gastroenterol Clin Biol 21 394–399 Occurrence Handle9208016
DH Alpers KJ Isselbacher (1975) Fatty liver: biochemical and clinical aspects L Schieff (Eds) Diseases of the liver. 4th ed Lippincott Philadelphia 815–832
L Solbiati V Kirn L Cova et al. (2003) Other benign lesions and pseudolesions . Solbiaty (Eds) Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of liver diseases Springer-Verlag Rome 60–61
TL Wright AP Venook GH Millward-Sadler (1992) Hepatic tumors GH Millward-Sadler R Wright MJP Arthur (Eds) Wright’s liver and biliary disease, vol 2, 3rd ed WB Saunders Philadelphia 1079–1121
P Mirk L Rubaltelli . Bazzochi et al. (1982) ArticleTitleUltrasonographic patterns in hepatic haemangiomas J Clin Ultrasound 10 373–378 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiyD1czislI%3D Occurrence Handle6816817
S Tanaka T Kitamura M Fujita et al. (1990) ArticleTitleColor Doppler flow imaging of liver tumours AJR 154 509–514 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By%2BC28vjtFY%3D Occurrence Handle2154912
TK Kim JK Han AY Kim BI Choi (1999) ArticleTitleLimitations of characterisation of hepatic haemangiomas using an ultrasound contrast agent (Levovist) and power Doppler ultrasound J Ultrasound Med 18 737–743 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c%2Fht1GqtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10547105
JY Lee BI Choi JK Han et al. (2002) ArticleTitleImproved sonographic imaging of hepatic hemangioma with contrast-enhanced coded harmonic angiography: comparison with MR imaging Ultrasound Med Biol 28 287–295 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0301-5629(01)00511-7 Occurrence Handle11978408
D Strobel S Raeker P Martus et al. (2003) ArticleTitlePhase inversion harmonic imaging versus contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography for the characterization of focal liver lesions Int J Colorectal Dis 18 63–72 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00384-002-0397-4 Occurrence Handle12458384
J Furuse M Nagase H Ishii M Yoshino (2003) ArticleTitleContrast enhancement patterns of hepatic tumours during the vascular phase using coded harmonic imaging and Levovist to differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma from other focal lesions Br J Radiol 76 385–392 Occurrence Handle10.1259/bjr/14206699 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s3oslehtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12814924
E Quaia M Bertolotto L Dalla Palma (2002) ArticleTitleCharacterization of liver haemangiomas with pulse inversion harmonic imaging Eur Radiol 12 537–544 Occurrence Handle11870467
EJ Yun BJ Choi JK Han et al. (1999) ArticleTitleHepatic hemangioma: contrast-enhancement pattern during the arterial and the portal venous phases of spiral CT Abdom Imaging 24 262–266 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002619900492 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3ksVKntQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10227890
BE Van Beers B Gallez J Pringot (1997) ArticleTitleContrast enhanced MR imaging of the liver Radiology 203 297–306 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiB28fnt1w%3D Occurrence Handle9114076
T Kim MP Federle RL Baron et al. (2001) ArticleTitleDiscrimination of small hepatic haemangiomas from hypervascular malignant tumors smaller than 3 cm with three-phase helical CT Radiology 219 699–706 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3ps1yrsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11376257
IR Wanless C Mawdsley R Adams (1985) ArticleTitleOn the pathogenesis of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver Hepatology 5 1194–1200 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BimD2MjktlM%3D Occurrence Handle4065824
M Di Stasi E Carturelli I De Sio et al. (1996) ArticleTitleNatural history of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: an ultrasound study J Clin Ultrasound 24 345–350 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1097-0096(199609)24:7<345::AID-JCU3>3.3.CO;2-0 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiD38jns10%3D Occurrence Handle8873856
D Kehagias L Moulopoulos A Antoniou et al. (2001) ArticleTitleFocal nodular hyperplasia: imaging findings Eur Radiol 11 202–212 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s003300000575 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3ksVaktA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11218015
C Bartolozzi R Lencioni A Paolicchi et al. (1997) ArticleTitleDifferentiation of hepatocellular adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: comparison of power Doppler imaging and conventional color Doppler sonography Eur Radiol 7 1410–1415 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s003300050308 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c%2FjvFWjug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9369506
E Leen (2001) ArticleTitleThe role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the characterization of focal liver lesion Eur Radiol 11 (suppl 3 27–34
G Brancatelli MP Federle L Grazioli et al. (2001) ArticleTitleFocal nodular hyperplasia: CT findings with emphasis on multiphasic helical CT in 78 patients Radiology 219 61–68 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3hslGkuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11274535
PR Ros Y Menu V Vilgrain et al. (2001) ArticleTitleLiver neoplasms and tumor-like conditions Eur Radiol 11 (suppl 2 145–165
CH Hungh CS Changchien SN Lu et al. (2001) ArticleTitleSonographic features of hepatic adenomas with pathologic correlation Abdom Imaging 26 500–506 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00261-001-0011-1 Occurrence Handle11503088
M Golli JT Van Nhieu D Mathieu et al. (1994) ArticleTitleHepatocellular adenoma: color Doppler US and pathologic correlations Radiology 190 741–744 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuC2Mbos1M%3D Occurrence Handle8115621
T Ichikawa MP Federle L Grazioli M Nalesnik (2000) ArticleTitleHepatocellular adenoma: multiphasic CT and histopathologic findings in 25 patients Radiology 214 861–8 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7osV2nug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10715059
KY Chung WW Mayo-Smith S Saini et al. (1995) ArticleTitleHepatocellular adenoma: MR imaging features with pathologic correlation AJR 165 303–308 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqA2czotlI%3D Occurrence Handle7618545
L Solbiati M Tonolini A. Bellobuono et al. (2003) Hepatic adenoma. In: . Solbiati (Eds) Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of liver diseases Springer-Verlag Rome 52–55
AK Lim N Patel WM Gedroyc et al. (2002) ArticleTitleHepatocellular adenoma: diagnostic difficulties and novel imaging techniques Br J Radiol 75 695–699 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD38vjsFWqsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12153946
JT Ferrucci (1994) ArticleTitleLiver tumour imaging. Current concepts Radiol Clin North Am 32 39–54 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuC3M3hvVU%3D Occurrence Handle8284360
P Ricci M Coniglio A Di Filippo et al. (1999) Ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound of liver metastases in liver malignancies Springer-Verlag New York 179–184
CJ Harvey MJ Blomley RJ Eckersley et al. (2000) ArticleTitleHepatic malignancies: improved detection with pulse-inversion US in late phase of enhancement with SH U 508A-early experience Radiology 216 903–908 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3cvktVakug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10966730
T Albrecht CW Hoffmann SA Schmitz et al. (2001) ArticleTitlePhase-inversion sonography during the liver-specific late phase of contrast enhancement: improved detection of liver metastases AJR 176 1191–1198 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MzotlSmtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11312180
T Albrecht MJ Blomley PN Burns et al. (2003) ArticleTitleImproved detection of hepatic metastases with pulse-inversion US during the liver-specific phase of SHU 508A: multicenter study Radiology 227 361–370 Occurrence Handle12649417
E Quaia M Bertolotto B Forgacs et al. (2003) ArticleTitleDetection of liver metastases by pulse inversion harmonic imaging during Levovist late phase: comparison with conventional ultrasound and helical CT in 160 patients Eur Radiol 13 475–483 Occurrence Handle12594549
J Hohmann T Albrecht CW Hoffmann KJ Wolf (2003) ArticleTitleUltrasonographic detection of focal liver lesions: increased sensitivity and specificity with microbubble contrast agents Eur J Radiol 46 147–159 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0720-048X(02)00053-0 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7psVOntw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle12714231
GT Sica J Hoon PR Ros (2000) ArticleTitleCT and MR imaging of hepatic metastases AJR 174 691–698 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7mtlGntA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10701611
J Bruix M Sherman JM Llovet et al. (2001) ArticleTitleClinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions of the Barcelona-2000 EASL Conference J Hepatol 35 421–430 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-8278(01)00130-1 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MrksFCmtg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11592607
CK Kim JH Lim WJ Lee (2001) ArticleTitleDetection of hepatocellular carcinomas and dysplastic nodules in cirrhotic liver: accuracy of ultrasonography in transplant patients J Ultrasound Med 20 99–104 Occurrence Handle10.1287/mksc.20.2.99.10191 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlvFGis74%3D Occurrence Handle11211142
J Ward PJ Robinson (2002) ArticleTitleHow to detect hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis Eur Radiol 12 2258–2272 Occurrence Handle12195479
R Lencioni F Pinto N Armillotta C Bartolozzi (1996) ArticleTitleAssessment of tumour vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of power Doppler US and color Doppler US Radiology 201 353–358 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiD2czgt1A%3D Occurrence Handle8888222
K Numata K Tanaka T Kiba et al. (2001) ArticleTitleContrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray scale imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma J Ultrasound Med 20 89–98 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7nvFOnug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11211141
L Solbiati M Tonolini L Cova N Goldberg (2001) ArticleTitleThe role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the detection of focal liver lesions Eur Radiol 11 (suppl 3 15–26
TK Kim AY Kim BI Choi (2002) ArticleTitleHepatocellular carcinoma: harmonic ultrasound and contrast agent Abdom Imaging 27 129–138 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00261-001-0089-5 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD387hsVequw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11847572
RL Baron JH Oliver GD Dodd et al. (1996) ArticleTitleHepatocellular carcinoma: evaluation with biphasic, contrast-enhanced, helical CT Radiology 199 505–511 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymB3c3nvFc%3D Occurrence Handle8668803
Y Yamashita K Mitsuzaki T Yi (1996) ArticleTitleSmall hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver damage: prospective comparison of detection with dynamic MR imaging and helical CT of whole liver Radiology 200 79–84 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymB2MjhsVc%3D Occurrence Handle8657948
Nicolau C, Catalá V, Vilana, R, et al. (2004) Evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma using SonoVue, a second generation ultrasound contrast agent: correlation with cellular differentiation. Eur Radiol (in press)
H Kitamura S Kawasaki K Nakajima H Ota (2002) ArticleTitleCorrelation between microbubble contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography and immunostaining for Kupffer cells in assessing the histopathologic grade of hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary results J Clin Ultrasound 30 465–471 Occurrence Handle10.1002/jcu.10099 Occurrence Handle12242734
TK Kim BI Choi JK Han et al. (1997) ArticleTitlePeripheral cholangiocarcinoma of the liver: two-phase CT findings Radiology 204 539–543 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiA1c3lsVI%3D Occurrence Handle9240550
JK Han BI Choi AY Kim et al. (2002) ArticleTitleCholangiocarcinoma: pictorial essay of CT and cholangiographic findings Radiographics 22 173–187 Occurrence Handle11796906
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nicolau, C., Brú, C. Focal liver lesions: evaluation with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Abdom Imaging 29, 348–359 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-003-0117-8
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-003-0117-8