Quantitative Analysis of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography in Regenerative Nodules in Liver Cirrhosis and Its Significance in Quantitative Diagnosis

Objective To analyze the enhance pattern and the echogenicity of small regenerative nodules(SRNs) in cirrhotic patients and to evaluate the diagnostic value on the cirrhotic SRNs by these parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS).Then to investigate the value of CEUS in the quantitative diagnosis of SRNs.Methods Contract Tuned Imaging Real-time Sono Vue enhanced ultrasonography was performed on 42 patients with LSFLIs that had definite pathologic diagnosis.The imaging of CEUS was analyzed by the time-intensity curve using computer assisted software.Results The enhancement patterns were classified as the following four types:Type Ⅰ,26/46 lesions,enhanced simultaneously and presented the isoecho with the liver;Type Ⅱ,16/46 lesions,slow-in and become the isoecho in parenchymal phase;Type Ⅲ,3/46 lesions,fast-in ans slow-out;Type Ⅳ,1/46,no enhancement. Slope of upslope and decent,average intensity in SRNs had significant deviation with liver parenchyma.Time-to peak had no significant deviation with no liver parenchyma.The diagnosis of conventional sonography was 65.79%.The diagnosis of CEUS was 88.37%.Conclusion The diagnosis of CEUS was superior to conventional sonography.It could evaluate the degree of vascularization in SRNs effectively,especially regenerative nodules.The time-intensity curve in SRNs that conventional sonography could not found.CEUS could analyzed and diagnosed.CEUS might be important in SRNs diagnosis as malignant tentatively.