{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Optimal injection rate of ultrasound contrast agent for evaluation of focal liver lesions using an automatic power injector: a pilot study.
{Author}: Sugimoto K;Moriyasu F;Takeuchi H;Kojima M;Ogawa S;Sano T;Furuichi Y;Kobayashi Y;Nakamura I;
{Journal}: Springerplus
{Volume}: 5
{Issue}: 1
{Year}: 2016
暂无{DOI}: 10.1186/s40064-016-2364-5
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To determine the optimal bolus injection rate of ultrasound (US) contrast agent in vascular imaging for focal liver lesions.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Thirteen patients with 13 focal liver lesions (5 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with cirrhosis, 4 liver metastases, 2 hemangiomas, 1 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 1 focal nodular hyperplasia) received two bolus injections of Sonazoid (at 0.5 and 2.0 mL/s) using an automatic power injector. The lesion-to-liver contrast ratio at peak enhancement was quantitatively evaluated. Enhancement of the lesions compared to liver parenchyma was assessed by two independent readers using a five-point scale and qualitatively evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>For all lesions, the contrast ratio was not significantly different between the two injection rates. For HCCs, the contrast ratio was higher at 0.5 mL/s (7.41 ± 6.56) than at 2.0 mL/s (4.28 ± 4.66, p = 0.025). For all lesions, the mean area under the ROC curve (AUC) was not significantly different between the two injection rates. For HCCs, the AUC was greater at 0.5 mL/s than at 2.0 mL/s (AUC: 0.86, p = 0.013).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>In contrast-enhanced US, an injection rate of 0.5 mL/s is superior to an injection rate of 2.0 mL/s for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of HCCs in the cirrhotic liver.