The Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Kim, Moon Young

doi:2014.14.1.7

J Liver Cancer > Volume 14(1); 2014 > Article

Review Article

Journal of the Korean Liver Cancer Study Group 2014;14(1):7-13.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17998/jlc.14.1.7 Published online March 31, 2014.

The Usefulness of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Moon Young Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea

Correspondence: Moon Young Kim,
Email: drkimmy@yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) using microbubble ultrasonography agent is able to show the vascular structure and enhancement patterns of lesions, so it has an worth in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which is a typical cancer that has a characteristic neovascularization. CEUS shows 3 phase vascular pattern like computer tomography (CT) typical arterial enhancement and portal or late wash out in HCC. CEUS can show a enhancement pattern of HCC in a real time and it has no nephrotoxicity or radiation hazard. Beyond the diagnosis, CEUS has also shown usefulness in the guidance of locoregional treatment and estimation of treatment response of HCC. In addition, recently, a few data which show a usefulness of CEUS in the early estimation of response after target therapy in the advanced HCC, also have been reported. However, CEUS has limitations in clinical practice yet and more wide investigation is needed for the validation of usefulness and wide application in clinical practice. However, CEUS also has many advantages in the field of the diagnosis and management of HCC, so in in this review, we are going to introduce CEUS and overview its clinical usefulness briefly.

Key Words: Contrast enhanced ultrasonography; Ultrasonography contrast agent; Hepatocellular carcinoma

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