Summary
A 3-cm lesion indicative of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver was coincidentally detected in a 21-year-old female. Ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and liver scintigraphy all proved nonspecific. However, color Doppler US demonstrated characteristic vascular patterns of FNH of the liver, including (a) hypervascularity of the mass, (b) an enlarged afferent blood vessel in the tumor with blood flow toward the center of the tumor, and (c) arterial pulse waves in all the vessels in the lesion, detected by means of the fast Fourier transformation (FFT). With selective hepatic angiography, a “spoke-wheel” pattern was revealed. The angiographic pattern corresponded well to that shown by color Doppler US. On the basis of the findings from these two modalities, the diagnosis of FNH was made. This report examines the effectiveness of color Doppler US in the differential diagnosis of FNH, compared with other imaging modalities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kerlin P, Davis GL, Mcgill DB, et al. Hepatic adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia: Clinical, pathologic, and radiologic features. Gastroenterol 1983;84:994–1002.
Fechner RE. Angiographic and pathologic correlations of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia. Ame J Surg Pathol 1977;1:217–224.
Knowels DM, Wolff M. Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver. A clinicopathological study and review of the literature. Human Pathol 1976;7:533–545.
Borner N, Herzog P, Kreitner KF, et al. Farbcodierte Dopplersonographie (FD-Sonographie) primarer und sekundarer Lebertumoren. Ultraschall in Med 1990;11:274–280.
Taylor KJW, Ramos I, Morse SS, et al. Focal liver masses: Differential diagnosis with pulsed doppler US. Radiology 1987;164: 643–647.
Naganuma T, Ishida H, Mirikawa P, et al. A case of focal nodular hyperplasia Jpn J Med Ultrasonics 1991;18:910–915.(in Japanese)
Scatarige JC, Fishman EK, Sanders RC. The sonographic “Scar Sign” in focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver. J Ultrasound Med 1982;1:275–278.
Majewski A, Gratz KF, Brolsch Ch, et al. Sonographic pattern of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver. Europ J Radiol 1984;4:52–57.
Welch TJ, Sheedy PF, Johnson CM, et al. Focal nodular hyperplasia and hepatic adenoma: comparison of angiography, CT, US, and scintigraphy. Radiology 1985;156:593–595.
Lee MJ, Saini S, Hamm B, et al. Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: MR findings in 35 proved cases. AJR 1991;156:317–320.
Gooneratne NS, Burse MG, Quinn LJ, et al. “Hot spot” on hepatic scintigraphy and radionuclide venocavography. Am J Radiology 1977;129:447–450.
Merritt CRB. Doppler color flow imaging. A Clin Ultrasound 1987;15:591–597.
Koslin DB, Berland LL. Duplex doppler examination. J Clin Ultrasound 1987;15:675–686.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yamamoto, H., Yamanaka, T., Yoshida, Y. et al. Detection of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver with color Doppler ultrasonography. Gastroenterol Jpn 28, 424–430 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02776989
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02776989