Real-time ultrasound contrast quantitative comparison study of regenerative nodules and small hepatocellular carcinoma in liver cirrhosis / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in regenerative nodules(RNs)and small hepatocellular carcinoma(sHCC).Methods Thirty-four cases of liver cirrhosis with small nodule were examined by CEUS.Among these cases,18 cases with 20 lesions were diagnosed s HCC,16 cases with 18 lesions were diagnosed RN eventually,all the diagnoses were confirmed by pathology.Perfusion characteristic and quantitative difference of RNs and sHCC were summarized.Results ①The majority of sHCC showed hyper-enhancement during the arterial phase,iso-enhancement or hypo-enhancement during the portal phase,hypo-enhancement during the late phase.The enhanced phase and degree of RNs were diverse,most of RNs showed iso enhancement during the three phases.The enhanced phase of two groups had significant difference(P ＜0.05).②The enhancement type of RNs and sHCC had no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).③ 11 of 20 sHCC lesions showed contrast-enhancement pattern of fast-in and slow-out,9 lesions were fast-in and fast-out;among 18 RNs,1 lesion enhanced during the portal phase and the late phase,it didn't enhanced during the arterial phase,3 lesions started to enhanced at the late arterial phase,14 lesions were iso-enhancement during the three phases.④Comparison of parameters of RNs and the adjacent liver parenchyma had no significant difference(P ＞0.05).Compared with the adjacent liver parenchyma or RNs,the arrival time and peak time were shorter,the peak intensity and the curve sharpness were higher in sHCC (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CEUS is a useful method to distinguish RNs and sHCC in liver cirrhosis.