Liver Tumor Characterization – Comments and Illustrations Regarding Guidelines

Abstract

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a well established diagnostic imaging technique for a variety of indications and applications. One of the most important applications is in the liver where it is frequently a first-line technique for the detection and diagnosis (characterization) of focal liver lesions (FLLs). In this setting the accurate differentiation of benign lesions from malignant lesions is critical to ensure that the patient undergoes the appropriate therapeutic option. In this article the role of CEUS in the characterization of FLLs is described on the basis of recently published guidelines, in particular in terms of the enhancement patterns of the most common FLLs, e. g. hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, hepatocellular adenoma and their differentiation from malignant lesions.

Zusammenfassung

Kontrastverstärkte Ultraschalltechniken (CEUS) wurden vor ca. 10 Jahren in die klinische Routine eingeführt und haben sich für vielfältige Indikationen im klinischen Alltag etabliert. Die kontrastverstärkte Sonografie ist in vielen Fällen die erste und auch entscheidende Technik zur Detektion und Charakterisierung von Lebertumoren. Diese Entwicklung wird durch vielfältige CEUS-Leitlinien reflektiert, beispielsweise durch die EFSUMB-Leitlinien 2004 und 2008. In diesem Artikel werden insbesondere die Tumorcharakteristika benigner Lebertumoren beschrieben.

Key words

diagnosis - characterization - metastases - hepatocellular carcinoma - focal nodular hyperplasia - hemamgioma - microbubble

• References

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