VISUALIZATION OF TUMOR VESSELS IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA - POWER-DOPPLER COMPARED WITH COLOR-DOPPLER AND ANGIOGRAPHY

Purpose: To assess the visualization of tumor vessels in hepatocellula r carcinoma (HCC) by power Doppler sonography. Material and Methods: W e examined 40 patients with 47 HCC lesions by means of power Doppler s onography and compared its visualization of tumor vessels with those o f color Doppler and angiography. Results: In 38 (81%) of the 47 lesion s, power Doppler sonography improved the visualization of tumor vessel s compared with color Doppler sonography; in the remaining lesions no significant difference was noted. In lesions located within 7 cm in de pth, there was no significant difference between power Doppler sonogra phy and angiography. In 10 (83%) out of 12 small (less than or equal t o 2 cm in diameter) lesions and in 11 (85%) out of 13 hypovascular les ions, power Doppler sonography performed considerably better than angi ography. In deeper-seated lesions, however, angiography was significan tly superior to power Doppler sonography. Conclusion: Power Doppler so nography is more sensitive in detecting the fine tumor vessels in most HCCs than color Doppler sonography. In addition, power Doppler sonogr aphy can replace angiography in evaluating tumor vascularity in HCCs e xcept in lesions that are deep-seated or located near the heart. In th ese lesions, angiography can complement power Doppler sonography in de monstrating tumor vessels.