The study on hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma by contrast-enhanced ultrasound / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the value of contrast enhanced ultrasonography ( CEUS) in the diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma( HEHE) . Methods The images of CEUS had been retrospectively evaluated in 21 lesions of HEHE which were confirmed by pathology . The perfusion patterns and time of enhancement were observed ,including time to begin enhancement , time to peak enhancement ,the washout time and the appearance of internal structures . Results The mean time of begin enhancement ,time to peak ,time to isoechogenity and hypoechogenity were ( 17 .4 ± 5 .2) s ,( 22 .0 ± 7 .2) s , ( 23 .9 ± 4 .6 ) s and ( 42 .2 ± 13 .7 ) s ,respectively . During the arterial phase , 8 lesions showed diffuse enhancement ,7 lesions showed rim-like enhancement and 6 lesions showed branch enhancement . The inner margin in 6 lesions showed speculate enhancement . The central portion of the tumors was not enhanced in part lesions of 8 cases . As to time of peak enhancement ,compared to the normal hepatic parenchyma , hypoenhancement ,isoenhancement and hyperenhancement were observed in 10 lesions ,6 lesions and 5 lesions respectively . Synchronous enhancement was observed in 11 lesions on CEUS ,rapid enhancement was observed in 8 lesions and slow enhancement was observed in 2 lesions . Twenty-one lesions manifested hypoechoic mass in portal phase and delayed phase . The boundary of lesions was unclear on conventional ultrasound and became distinct after contrast injection in 21 lesions . Conclusions CEUS is useful for the diagnosis of HEHE .