[Ultrasonic detectability of multiple small hepatic nodules]

We analyzed the ultrasonic detectability of multiple daughter nodules accompanied by 18 hepatocellular carcinomas and multiple small nodules in 11 metastatic liver tumors identified by infusion hepatic angiography. In the cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, ultrasonic detectability of daughter nodules was remarkably limited. If any daughter nodules are detected by US, there is the great possibility that many other daughter nodules are undetected. However, US is effective in detecting small nodules in the metastatic liver tumor.