RESUMO
Objective To explore the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)for small focal liver lesions (FLLs). Methods The clinical data,CEUS findings,and pathology of 69 patients with small FLLs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to size of FLLs and the performance of CEUS was compared. Results The accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value of CEUS for the 69 FLLs were 94.2%,95.2%,93.8%,87.0%,and 97.8%,respectively. Rate of fast wash-out in portal vein phase was lower in group of diameters ≤2 cm than that in group of diameters>2 cm (P<0.05). Conclusions CEUS has a high diagnostic value for small FLLs.However,the CEUS findings of malignant lesions smaller than 2 cm are not typical in the portal phase and therefore the diagnosis should also be based on clinical features.