2009•Zhongguo yixue yingxiangxue zazhiRequires access
The Role of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in the Differential Diagnosis of Hepatic Abscesses
Rui Zhang
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Abstract
Purpose: The study was designed to investigate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of hepatic abscesses from malignant tumors.Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients with pathologic or clinical follow-up proven hepatic lesions(20 hepatic primary carcinoma,11 hepatic metastases and 11 hepatic abscesses) were explored using both conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Features of sonogram and time-intensity curves were compared between hepatic abscess and hepatic malignancy.Results: Lesion's dimension demonstrated on contrast-enhanced ultrasound was significantly lager than that depicted by gray scale ultrasound in hepatic abscess(P0.01),but for hepatic malignant tumor,size of lesions revealed on gray scale ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasound was almost the same.Significant difference was found in the time to enhancement,time to peak intensity and enhancement duration between hepatic abscesses and hepatic malignant tumors(P0.01).Conclusion: Characteristics demonstrated by contrast enhanced ultrasound will facilitate the differential diagnosis of hepatic abscess and hepatic malignancy.