[Contrast media-enhanced duplex ultrasonography of liver tumors]

The differentiation of focal liver processes is a daily clinical problem. A new option in addition to magnetic resonance tomography has been created with the development of new stable sonographic contrast agents. In this paper, Levovist was studied as a sonographic contrast agent in the detection of specific tumour perfusion patterns. All focal liver processes were proven by cytology or histology. In 19 of 22 cases there was a pathological diagnosis. In 5 of 7 haemangiomas a feeding vessel was visualised. In 3 focal nodular hyperplasias intense intratumoural enhancement was visible shortly after injection. In 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinomas tumoural neovascularisations were visualised which were not seen before the injection of Levovist. The new sonographic contrast agents provide better differentiation of specific perfusion patterns of liver tumours than normal duplex sonography.