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Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings with emphasis on lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity

  • Hepatobiliary-Pancreas
  • Published:
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Abstracts

Objective

To correlate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) with lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity and to compare CEUS with baseline US.

Methods

Two radiologists evaluated baseline US and CEUS examinations of 92 FNHs (mean size: 3.1 ± 1.7 cm) in 71 patients (59 women and 12 men) to detect the “spoke-wheel” sign, central scar and feeding vessel. The FNHs were grouped and analysed by dimension, depth and liver echogenicity.

Results

At least one sign could be detected at CEUS in 27 out of 36 (75%) FNHs larger than 3 cm and in 17 out of 56 (30%) FNH measuring 3 cm or less (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were noted between lesion depth or liver echogenicity and detection rate of these signs at CEUS (p > 0.05) as well as between CEUS or baseline US/CD with regard to lesion size, depth or liver echogenicity (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The detection rate of the central scar and spoke-wheel sign in FNH at CEUS is strongly dependent on lesion size and CEUS can confidently diagnose most FNHs larger than 3 cm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 129, 90127, Palermo, Italy

    Tommaso Vincenzo Bartolotta, Adele Taibbi, Domenica Matranga, Giovanni Malizia, Roberto Lagalla & Massimo Midiri

  2. Via Del Carabiniere 32, 90146, Palermo, Italy

    Tommaso Vincenzo Bartolotta

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  1. Tommaso Vincenzo Bartolotta
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  2. Adele Taibbi
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  3. Domenica Matranga
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  4. Giovanni Malizia
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  5. Roberto Lagalla
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  6. Massimo Midiri
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Correspondence to Tommaso Vincenzo Bartolotta.

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Bartolotta, T.V., Taibbi, A., Matranga, D. et al. Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings with emphasis on lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity. Eur Radiol 20, 2248–2256 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1775-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1775-x

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