Early diagnosis of undiscovered nodosity metastasis by hepatic artery Doppler flow imaging perfusion index and contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Abstract

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of early undiscovered nodosity metastasis by hepatic artery Doppler flow imaging perfusion index(DPI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).Methods Six hundred and fifty-five patients were collected who suffered with malignant tumor which is not from liver and without liver metastasis.DPI were detected in all patients first,and then patients of higher DPI were taken CEUS and contrast-enhanced CT(CECT).All the diagnosis were confirmed by operation,biopsy under ultrasound or follow-up.Results After 6 months' follow-up,there were 19 patients found liver metastasis in 562 patients without increase of DPI,and 75 patients found liver metastasis in 93 patients with increase of DPI(DPI＞30％).The negative and the positive predictive value were respectively 96.6％and 80.6％.Seventy-five patients were found 132 liver metastasis who were given CEUS,and 60 patients were found 94 liver metastasis who were given CECT,there was significance difference between them( P ＜0.01).Conclusions The combination of DPI and CEUS can get higher detection rate of liver metastasis. Key words: Ultrasonography; Microbubbles; Liver neoplasms; Neoplasm metastasis; Liver artery; Hemodynamic phenomena