This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gültekin, S. Articles by Araç, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gültekin, S. Articles by Araç, M.

The Role of Late-Phase Pulse Inversion Harmonic Imaging in the Detection of Occult Hepatic Metastases

Department of Radiology, Gazi University, School of Medicine, Besevler-Ankara, Turkey.

Address correspondence to Serap Gültekin, MD, Gazi Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dali, 06510 Besevler-Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: serapgultekin{at}gazi.edu.tr

Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of late-phase pulse inversion harmonic imaging (PIHI) in detecting occult metastases and to compare the results with helical computed tomography (CT) in a group of patients whose fundamental liver sonographic results were normal. Methods. Thirty-two patients (21 women and 11 men; age range, 20–87 years) with a known primary malignancy were enrolled in the study. The patients were evaluated with conventional sonography, unenhanced PIHI, and PIHI 3 minutes after the injection of Levovist (SH U 508A; Schering AG, Berlin, Germany). All patients also underwent triphasic helical CT within 1 week after sonography. In 1 patient, mangafodipir-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging was performed as part of the clinical workup. Results. After Levovist injection, in 4 (12.5%) of 32 patients, at least 1 hypoechoic lesion was detected by PIHI; multiple lesions were shown in 1 patient. The mean diameter of newly detected lesions was 12 mm. Triphasic helical CT also showed all of the lesions that were detected by PIHI. The diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy and CT findings in 2 patients and by the typical CT and magnetic resonance imaging findings in 1 patient. For the fourth patient, the diagnosis was confirmed by follow-up and CT. Conclusions. Late-phase PIHI is comparable to helical CT for detecting occult hepatic metastases, but it protects patients from the potentially hazardous effects of radiation and iodinated contrast agents. Further series involving a larger number of patients are needed to determine its place in the evaluation of cancer staging and treatment planning.

Key Words: contrast agent • harmonic imaging • occult hepatic metastases • pulse inversion • sonography

Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography • MI, mechanical index • Mn-DPDP, mangafodipir • MRI, magnetic resonance imaging • PIHI, pulse inversion harmonic imaging

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Luo, X. Zhou, X. Zheng, G. He, M. Yu, Q. Li, and Q. Liu Role of Sonography for Implantation and Sequential Evaluation of a VX2 Rabbit Liver Tumor Model J. Ultrasound Med., January 1, 2010; 29(1): 51 - 60. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Minami, H. Chung, M. Kudo, S. Kitai, S. Takahashi, T. Inoue, K. Ueshima, and H. Shiozaki Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Value of Virtual CT Sonography with Magnetic Navigation Am. J. Roentgenol., June 1, 2008; 190(6): W335 - W341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]