Contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray scale imaging of hepatocellularcarcinoma - Correlation with helical computed tomographic findings

We evaluated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray s cale imaging for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and compared it with helical computed tomography Forty-eight patients with 61 hepatocellula r carcinoma lesions were scanned by contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic g ray scale imaging after an intravenous bolus injection of the contrast agen t Levovist. fifty-seven of the 61 hepatocellular carcinoma lesions showed h ypervascular enhancement, and intratumoral vessels could be observed in 40 of the 57 lesions. Helical computed tomography revealed a high-attenuation area in 54 of the 61 lesions, whereas the other lesions showed an equivocal -attenuation area. Contrast-enhanced, wide-band harmonic gray scale imaging is a useful method for diagnosing the vascularity of hepatocellular carcin oma.