Clinical study of focal liver lesions by using contrast enhanced ultrasound

Objective To study the contrast enhanced patterns of focal liver lesions with contrast enhanced ultrasound(CEUS),and to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEUS for focal liver lesions.Methods 86 patients with focal liver lesions were performed with contrast enhanced ultrasound.The enhancing start time,the wash-out time of focal liver lesions after contrast injection were recorded and the echo-imaging of CEUS were analyzed.Results The enhancing start time of benign or malignant lesions was less than 30 second;the wash-out time of all malignant lesions was less than 90 second,the wash-out time of most benign lesions was more than 180 second.There were significant differences of the enhancing start time between benign and malignant focal liver lesions.The wash-out time between benign and malignant focal liver lesions were significantly different.A diffuse homogeneous or diffuse heterogeneous enhanced pattern was the main enhancement pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma;the perfusion pattern in liver metastases were the peripheral rim-like enhancement and the homogeneous enhancement;The main enhancement pattern of hepatic hemangiomas was the peripheral nodular enhancement;the main enhancement pattern of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia(FNH)was central with spoke wheel-shaped enhancement.Conclusion The contrast enhanced ultrasound can clearly show dynamic enhancement features of focal liver lesions which is helpful to the differential diagnosis.