Value of the time-intensity and gamma curves of the contrast-enhanced ultrasound in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To investigate the value and the enhanced mode of time-intensity curve(TIC)combined with gamma curve of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The ultrasonic contrast images of 34 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma by the gamma curve were obtained by the time before,increased branch slope parameter, curve sharpness, gamma modulus, peak time,peak intensity, the average pre-peak intensity, increased branch slope and pre-peak area.Results Compared with the peripheral hepatic parenchyma, the curve of the tumor tissue ascended as well as declined more rapidly, peaked earlier with a more intensive peak value.There were significant differences between the two groups in all the data mentioned-above (P＜0.05 ).Conclusions TIC and gamma fit quantitative analysis can reflect the different perfusion characteristics between hepatocellular carcinoma and normal hepatic parenchyma objectively and accurately,so as to provide the quantitative criterion and basis for the diagnosis and hemodynamic study of the hepatocellular carcinoma. Key words: Ultrasonography;  Microbubbles; Carcinoma, hepatocellular