Objective:

To evaluate the similarities and differences in perfusion patterns of focal liver lesions when Sonazoid or SonoVue was used as contrast agents during contrast-enhanced ultrasound

and to further compare the similarities and differences between contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods:

Twenty-five patients with hepatic tumors were

all examined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced MRI. The contrast agent was randomly used with SonoVue or Sonazoid. The difference of perfusion pattern between benign and malignant intrahepatic lesions in different enhanced examinations and different contrast agents were analyzed.

Results:

Among the 25 cases

there were 11 cases of malignant tumor and 14 cases of benign tumor. There was no significant difference between contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced MRI in evaluating the arterial phase enhancement and contrast agent clearance in the delayed phase in hepatic tumors

P=1.00 and P=0.50 respectively. In 2 cases of malignant lesions

contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed contrast agent clearance in delayed phase

but enhanced MRI showed equal signal intensity and circular enhancement in the delayed phase. Compared with SonoVue

the use of Sonazoid as contrast agent showed a higher echogenicity of the liver parenchyma and more pronounced clearance of the liver lesions in the delayed phase.

Conclusion:

Both contrast-enhanced ultrasound applying SonoVue or Sonazoid as contrast agents and enhanced MRIcan be used for the differential diagnosis of liver lesions

and malignant lesions mostly show hemodynamic characteristics of arterial phase enhancement and delayed phase clearance. In a few cases

there may be differences in the portal and delayed phases between the two imaging methods. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound and enhanced MRI can be used as complementary examinations

and their combined application can further improve the diagnostic accuracy of hepatic tumors.