Objective:

To investigate the diagnosis value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differentiation of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods:

The image characteristics of CEUS were retrospectively analyzed in 31 HEHE lesions and 43 HCC lesions which were confirmed by pathol

ogy.

Results:

In the arterial phase

16 HEHE lesions showed global enhancement

8 branch enhancement and 7 rim-like enhancement

while 41 HCC lesions showed global enhancement

1 branch enhancement and 1 rim-like enhancement (

P

0.05). Synchronous enhancement was observed in 20 HEHE lesions on CEUS and rapid enhancement was observed in 11 lesions

while 41 HCC lesions presented rapid enhancement and 2 lesions presented synchronous enhancement (

P

0.05). At peak time

compared to the normal liver parenchyma

hypoenhancement

iso-enhancement and hyper-enhancement were observed in 8

13

10 HEHE lesions

and in 0

5

38 HCC lesions

respectively (

P

0.05). Regarding the enhancement homogeneity

23 HEHE lesions were homogeneous and 8 were heterogeneous while 27 HCC lesions were homogeneous and 16 were heterogeneous. All lesions displayed hypoecho in the portal venous and delayed phases. The decrease time in HEHE was shorter than HCC.

Conclusion:

CEUS is significantly important in the differential diagnosis of HEHE and HCC.