Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT in detecting liver tumors

Objective To compare the perfusion features of liver tumors with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced CT and evaluate their diagnostic value. Methods 92 cases of hepatic space-occupying lesions were detected with CEUS and contrast-enhanced CT respectively. Enhancement patterns and perfusion characters of liver tumors were compared in different phases. Results Using CEUS and contrast-enhanced CT, there were no significant difference in the enhancement patterns of primary liver carcinoma and hepatic hemangioma (χ2 test, P0.05). There was statistical difference in liver metastases (P0.05). Of the 30 liver malignant tumors, CEUS and contrast-enhanced CT showed 134 and 118 lesions respectively. Conclusion Both CEUS and contrast-enhanced CT could display hemodynamic characters of liver tumors sensitively. CEUS was superior to contrast-enhanced CT in detecting perfusion of micro-vascularity, especially in finding smaller lesions. So CEUS could evaluate the vascularization of liver tumors effectively and provide more information in early diagnosis of liver carcinoma.