Evaluation of the hemodynamics of liver masses by ultrasonic Doppler method: Usefullness in differential diagnosis of tumor

• Published in: Kanzo Vol. 32; no. 9; pp. 843 - 851
• Main Author: TOHARA, Keiji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Hepatology 1991
• ISSN: 0451-4203; 1881-3593
• DOI: 10.2957/kanzo.32.843

The hemodynamics using ultrasonic Doppler method was analyzed in various liver masses. The detection rate of Doppler signals in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (70%) was significantly higher than in metastatic liver cancer (29%) or hepatic hemangioma (29%). Doppler signal was not detected in the regenerative nodules of cirrhotic liver. Color signals obtained from the tumors were divided into the four groups, feeding signal (FS), spotty signal (SS), drainaging signal (DS) and penerating signal (PS). FS entering into the tumor from the boundary or DS flowing out from the tumor was detected only in HCC. Therefore, if FS or DS was obtained from the tumor, diagnosis of HCC was highly suspected. It was suggested that FS revealed feeding artery or portal vein and DS revealed drainaging flow in the tumors. Furthermore, Doppler method was useful for the evaluation of the effectiveness of transarterial embolization or percutaneous ethanol injection and for an appraisal of requirement of additional treatment.