Hepatic malignancies: Improved detection with pulse-inversion US in late phase of enhancement with SHU 508A - Early experience

Twenty consecutive patients with known liver malignancies underwent ultraso nography (US) in conventional B mode and in pulse-inversion mode in the lat e hepatic-specific parenchymal phase after intravenous administration of SH U 508A, a microbubble US contrast agent. Two experienced readers assessed subjective and objective conspicuity, number of lesions, and smallest lesio n diameter in each mode. Subjective and objective conspicuity were improved with pulse-inversion mode, and smaller lesions were depicted with pulse-in version mode than with conventional B mode, improving the detection of meta stases less than 1 cm in size.