[Arterial DSA of liver masses]

A total of 58 patients underwent intra-arterial hepatic DSA. 42 patients with hepatic masses were preselected by ultrasound or CT. In addition a conventional arteriography was performed in 34 of 58 cases. DSA without diagnostic quality occurred in 4 cases, in 4 other cases a diffuse metastatic disease of the liver was not detected in spite of good image quality. Comparing DSA with conventional angiograms our results demonstrated that DSA had a reduced imaging of intrahepatic small vessels but without negative influence on diagnostic value. Intra-hepatic DSA imaging could be improved using on-line image documentation, small size of image-intensifier and contrast material with an iodine concentration of 300 mg/ml. Advantages of DSA were observed in vascularized tumors and indirect splenoportograms. Contrast material with an iodine concentration of 200 mg/ml was sufficient for hepatic "vascular mapping" or demonstration of vascular diseases including main arteries.