HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Abstract Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Choi, B. I. Articles by Park, S. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Choi, B. I. Articles by Park, S. J.

Vascularity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Assessment with Contrast-enhanced SecondHarmonic versus Conventional Power Doppler US¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology and the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 28, Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, South Korea. Received February 4, 1999; revision requested April 2; revision received May 14; accepted June 2. Supported in part by a grant from the 1998 Highly Advanced National Projects on the Development of Biomedical Engineering and Technology in Korea. Address reprint requests to B.I.C.

View larger version (162K): [in a new window]   Figure 1a. HCC. (a) Conventional power Doppler US images. The image obtained before injection of the contrast agent shows a minimal dotlike power Doppler US signal (solid straight arrow) in the peripheral portion of a hypoechoic tumor. The conventional power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show a marked increase in the intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The contrast-enhanced area is maximal on the image obtained at 60 seconds and decreases subsequently. Diffuse partial filling of the tumor with power Doppler US signals is noted on 1- and 2-minute images (open straight arrows). Power Doppler artifacts (curved solid arrow) are seen along the diaphragm. (b) Harmonic power Doppler US images. The image obtained before contrast agent injection shows no intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The harmonic power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show dotlike and linear power Doppler US signals within the tumor. The intratumoral signals are lower in intensity in b than in a. The diffuse intratumoral filling with power Doppler US signals and the artifactual signals along the diaphragm are not seen in b.

View larger version (158K): [in a new window]   Figure 1b. HCC. (a) Conventional power Doppler US images. The image obtained before injection of the contrast agent shows a minimal dotlike power Doppler US signal (solid straight arrow) in the peripheral portion of a hypoechoic tumor. The conventional power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show a marked increase in the intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The contrast-enhanced area is maximal on the image obtained at 60 seconds and decreases subsequently. Diffuse partial filling of the tumor with power Doppler US signals is noted on 1- and 2-minute images (open straight arrows). Power Doppler artifacts (curved solid arrow) are seen along the diaphragm. (b) Harmonic power Doppler US images. The image obtained before contrast agent injection shows no intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The harmonic power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show dotlike and linear power Doppler US signals within the tumor. The intratumoral signals are lower in intensity in b than in a. The diffuse intratumoral filling with power Doppler US signals and the artifactual signals along the diaphragm are not seen in b.

View larger version (157K): [in a new window]   Figure 2a. HCC in a different patient than in (a) Conventional power Doppler US images. The image obtained before injection of the contrast agent shows dotlike power Doppler US signals in the peripheral and central portions of an exophytic tumor (straight arrows). The conventional power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show a marked increase in the number and intensity of intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The enhanced area is maximal on the 60-second image and decreases subsequently. Severe blooming artifacts (curved arrow) around the inferior vena cava are noted. (b) Harmonic power Doppler US images. The image obtained before contrast agent injection shows no intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The harmonic power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show dotlike and linear power Doppler US signals within the tumor. The power Doppler US signals in the tumor and adjacent normal liver in b are smaller in extent and lower in signal intensity than those in a. However, blooming artifacts around the inferior vena cava are not seen in b.

View larger version (161K): [in a new window]   Figure 2b. HCC in a different patient than in (a) Conventional power Doppler US images. The image obtained before injection of the contrast agent shows dotlike power Doppler US signals in the peripheral and central portions of an exophytic tumor (straight arrows). The conventional power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show a marked increase in the number and intensity of intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The enhanced area is maximal on the 60-second image and decreases subsequently. Severe blooming artifacts (curved arrow) around the inferior vena cava are noted. (b) Harmonic power Doppler US images. The image obtained before contrast agent injection shows no intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The harmonic power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show dotlike and linear power Doppler US signals within the tumor. The power Doppler US signals in the tumor and adjacent normal liver in b are smaller in extent and lower in signal intensity than those in a. However, blooming artifacts around the inferior vena cava are not seen in b.

View larger version (148K): [in a new window]   Figure 3a. HCC near the heart on conventional and harmonic power Doppler US images. (a) Conventional power Doppler US images. The image obtained before injection of the contrast agent shows minimal dotlike power Doppler US signals within a hypoechoic tumor. Despite the use of low-power Doppler US gain to reduce motion-related artifacts from cardiac pulsation when obtaining these images, artifacts (arrow) are noted in the liver near the heart. Conventional power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show an increase in the number and intensity of intratumoral power Doppler US signals. (b) Harmonic power Doppler US images. The image obtained before contrast agent injection shows no intratumoral power Doppler US signals. Harmonic power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show marked intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The extent of power Doppler US signals in the tumor and hepatic vessels in b is larger than in a.

View larger version (149K): [in a new window]   Figure 3b. HCC near the heart on conventional and harmonic power Doppler US images. (a) Conventional power Doppler US images. The image obtained before injection of the contrast agent shows minimal dotlike power Doppler US signals within a hypoechoic tumor. Despite the use of low-power Doppler US gain to reduce motion-related artifacts from cardiac pulsation when obtaining these images, artifacts (arrow) are noted in the liver near the heart. Conventional power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show an increase in the number and intensity of intratumoral power Doppler US signals. (b) Harmonic power Doppler US images. The image obtained before contrast agent injection shows no intratumoral power Doppler US signals. Harmonic power Doppler US images obtained at 30 seconds (sec), 60 seconds, 2 minutes (min), 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after injection show marked intratumoral power Doppler US signals. The extent of power Doppler US signals in the tumor and hepatic vessels in b is larger than in a.