Hepatocellular carcinoma: spectrum of contrast-enhanced gray-scale harmonic sonography findings. 2004

O Catalano, and R Lobianco, and B Cusati, and A Siani
Department of Radiology, S.Maria delle Grazie Hospital, via Domitiana Loc La Schiana, Pozzuoli, Italy. orlandcat@tin.it

Sonography (US) is the most commonly used tool in the assessment of patients with chronic liver disease. Nevertheless, small nodules can be overlooked. Moreover, even if the lesion is readily recognizable, difficulty persists in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from pre-tumoral, dysplastic stages of nodule evolution. In addition, US is the main tool in guiding percutaneous ablation therapies for HCC and in evaluating patients after treatment, but changes are not specific and difficulties persist in recognizing residual tumor during and after the ablation procedure. Contrast-enhanced, gray-scale, harmonic US offers new possibilities in the imaging of liver tumors. The real-time, low-mechanical index technique employed in our institution allows a true dynamic assessment of the tumor during the various phases of contrast medium circulation. This pictorial essay focuses on typical and atypical appearances of HCC when imaged with contrast-specific, real-time US. Findings useful for lesion detection, differential diagnosis, posttreatment assessment, and follow-up especially are illustrated. The potential role of contrast-enhanced US in various clinical settings is emphasized.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008113 Liver Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LIVER. Cancer of Liver,Hepatic Cancer,Liver Cancer,Cancer of the Liver,Cancer, Hepatocellular,Hepatic Neoplasms,Hepatocellular Cancer,Neoplasms, Hepatic,Neoplasms, Liver,Cancer, Hepatic,Cancer, Liver,Cancers, Hepatic,Cancers, Hepatocellular,Cancers, Liver,Hepatic Cancers,Hepatic Neoplasm,Hepatocellular Cancers,Liver Cancers,Liver Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Hepatic,Neoplasm, Liver
D010743 Phospholipids Lipids containing one or more phosphate groups, particularly those derived from either glycerol (phosphoglycerides see GLYCEROPHOSPHOLIPIDS) or sphingosine (SPHINGOLIPIDS). They are polar lipids that are of great importance for the structure and function of cell membranes and are the most abundant of membrane lipids, although not stored in large amounts in the system. Phosphatides,Phospholipid
D003287 Contrast Media Substances used to allow enhanced visualization of tissues. Radiopaque Media,Contrast Agent,Contrast Agents,Contrast Material,Contrast Materials,Radiocontrast Agent,Radiocontrast Agents,Radiocontrast Media,Agent, Contrast,Agent, Radiocontrast,Agents, Contrast,Agents, Radiocontrast,Material, Contrast,Materials, Contrast,Media, Contrast,Media, Radiocontrast,Media, Radiopaque
D006528 Carcinoma, Hepatocellular A primary malignant neoplasm of epithelial liver cells. It ranges from a well-differentiated tumor with EPITHELIAL CELLS indistinguishable from normal HEPATOCYTES to a poorly differentiated neoplasm. The cells may be uniform or markedly pleomorphic, or form GIANT CELLS. Several classification schemes have been suggested. Hepatocellular Carcinoma,Hepatoma,Liver Cancer, Adult,Liver Cell Carcinoma,Liver Cell Carcinoma, Adult,Adult Liver Cancer,Adult Liver Cancers,Cancer, Adult Liver,Cancers, Adult Liver,Carcinoma, Liver Cell,Carcinomas, Hepatocellular,Carcinomas, Liver Cell,Cell Carcinoma, Liver,Cell Carcinomas, Liver,Hepatocellular Carcinomas,Hepatomas,Liver Cancers, Adult,Liver Cell Carcinomas
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013459 Sulfur Hexafluoride Sulfur hexafluoride. An inert gas used mainly as a test gas in respiratory physiology. Other uses include its injection in vitreoretinal surgery to restore the vitreous chamber and as a tracer in monitoring the dispersion and deposition of air pollutants. Hexafluoride, Sulfur
D014463 Ultrasonography The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic pulses directed into the tissues. Use of ultrasound for imaging or diagnostic purposes employs frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 10 megahertz. Echography,Echotomography,Echotomography, Computer,Sonography, Medical,Tomography, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Ultrasonic Imaging,Ultrasonographic Imaging,Computer Echotomography,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasound,Ultrasonic Tomography,Ultrasound Imaging,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasounds,Imaging, Ultrasonic,Imaging, Ultrasonographic,Imaging, Ultrasound,Imagings, Ultrasonographic,Imagings, Ultrasound,Medical Sonography,Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonographic Imagings,Ultrasound, Diagnostic,Ultrasounds, Diagnostic

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