Enhancement characteristics of liver focal nodular hyperplasia ( less than 3 cm ) by contrast-enhanced ultrasound / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the typical contrast-enhanced ultrasound ( CEUS ) enhancement characteristics of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia ( FNH) within 3 cm ,and to discuss the diagnostic value of CEUS in small FNH lesions . Methods Forty-eight cases of FNH were retrospectively studied . All lesions were confirmed histopathologically after surgical resection . CEUS examinations with SonoVue were performed to characterize the enhancement patterns of lesions in 5 minutes . The whole wash in and wash out enhancement procedure of lesions were recorded and analyzed . Results All FNH lesions displayed a rapid hyper-enhancement in arterial phase by CEUS ,39 lesions of which showed spring-like enhancement ;8 lesions showed spoke-like enhancement ;1 lesion showed dendritic enhancement . 6 .3% (3/48) of the lesions showed central scar ,and feeding arteries was found in 52 .1% (25/48) lesions . According to echogenicity shift of the lesions in various phases ,20 .8% (10/48) FNH showed fast-in and slow-out" ,64 .6% (31/48) showed fast-in and synchronous-out" ,and 14 .6% (7/48) showed fast-in and fast-out" . According to fast-in and synchronous-out" or fast-in and slow-out" by CEUS ,the accuracy rate of benignity reached 85 .4% (41/48) . According to any of the spring-like enhancement ,spoke-like enhancement ,central scars or feeding arteries ,the accuracy rate of diagnosis of FNH within 3 cm reached 97 .9% (47/48) ,and 81 .3%(39/48) of which were diagnosed through spring-like enhancement . Conclusions CEUS is helpful in diagnosis of FNH within 3 cm by showing various characteristic enhancement patterns ,and spring-like enhancement is the most important sign in diagnosis of FNH less than 3 cm . CEUS has high diagnostic value for FN H less than 3 cm .