Quantitative comparison of tumor vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma after intravenous contrast agent: conventional versus harmonic power Doppler US.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to make a quantitative comparison between conventional and harmonic power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US) in depicting vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ten nodular HCCs in 10 patients were prospectively examined using a 2-4-MHz convex transducer and a standardized examination protocol. Serial US images were obtained before and 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 240, and 300 s after intravenous injection of 2 g of contrast agent using conventional and harmonic PD US. The percentage of area with Doppler signal within each HCC nodule (%PDA) was calculated in each image with a PC-based image analysis program, and the results with both US techniques were compared. In the majority of cases, %PDA was greater on conventional PD US than on harmonic PD US. Mean %PDA of 10 HCCs was significantly higher on conventional PD US than on harmonic PD US except at 20 s after injection. The highest values of mean %PDA were 34.9% in conventional PD US and 19.5% in harmonic PD US at 60 s after injection. Area with PD signals within the HCC is smaller and the duration of effective enhancement is shorter in harmonic PD US than in conventional PD US.