IMPROVED SENSITIVITY OF COLOR DOPPLER FLOW IMAGING OF COLORECTAL HEPATIC METASTASES USING GALACTOSE MICROPARTICLES - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

The clinical application of ultrasonographic contrast agents in colour Doppler flow imaging of hepatic tumours is receiving increasing atten tion. Levovist is a suspension of galactose microparticles that provid es reproducible concentrations of stabilized air bubbles with transpul monary stability. Its effect on colour Doppler imaging was assessed in 26 patients with colorectal cancer and histologically proven hepatic metastases. Colour Doppler flow imaging was performed before and after intravenous injection of 10 ml Levovist 300 mg/ml. At 5-10 s after in jection there was significant enhancement of the hepatic lesions with colour Doppler signals in 23 patients, lasting for a mean(s.d.) of 180 (45)s. A consistent pattern of colour Doppler signal was observed, wit h increased enhancement predominantly around the tumour periphery and little or no central enhancement. These data suggest that Levovist may increase the sensitivity and specificity of colour Doppler flow imagi ng of colorectal hepatic metastases.