Affiliations: Department of Internal Medicine I, Interdisciplinary Center of Clinical Ultrasound, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany | Department of Radiology, Interdisciplinary Center of Clinical Ultrasound, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Note: [] Both authors contributed equally.
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Med. Doris Schacherer, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany. Tel.: +49 941 944 0; Fax: +49 941 944 7002; E-mail: doris.schacherer@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
Abstract: Background: At the moment, there is only poor specificity of HCC-detection in tumors smaller than 2 cm in a cirrhotic liver. Thus, efforts have to be made to optimize the distinction between regenerative nodules and HCC. Aims: The aim of our study was to describe the particular perfusion pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma using a specific quantification software. Methods: We evaluated 25 patients with proven hepatocellular carcinoma, who underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using a second generation contrast agent (SonoVue®, Bracco, Germany). Retrospectively, we applied the quantification software Qontrast® (Bracco, Milan, Italy) to obtain contrast-enhanced sonographic perfusion maps for each lesion. Results: We found a close positive correlation of the perfusion parameters peak, time-to-peak and regional blood volume between the entire tumors, the center (center/total) and the periphery of the tumors (periphery/total), respectively. Moreover, we found significant higher peak values, a significant higher regional blood volume and a trend to lower time-to-peak in the center of the tumors compared to the tumor periphery. Conclusion: These results suggest a better established vascular bed in the center of the tumors. This could be a sonographic marker of HCC in contrast to regenerative nodules.
