[Diagnostic imaging of small liver tumors]

The recent introduction of the various imaging modalities including MRI has improved the diagnostic accuracy of metastatic liver tumor. Especially ultrasonography provides useful informations to demonstrate the relation of tumors to surrounding structures. However, at the same time it is still a fact that small lesions frequently escape detection and qualitative diagnosis is also rendered impossible in cases of small liver tumors. Repeated ultrasonographic examination combined with clinical informations is most important and qualitative diagnosis seems accomplishable by a combination of various imaging techniques including ultrasonically guided biopsy.