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Haemodynamic parameters of the hepatic artery and vein can detect liver metastases: assessment using contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Departments of ¹ Ultrasound and ² Anaesthesiology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China

Correspondence: Dr A H LI, Department of Ultrasound, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou, PR China 510060. E-mail: anhuali{at}hotmail.com

This study was to assess the changes in the haemodynamic parameters of the hepatic artery and vein in the diagnosis of liver metastases by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). 52 patients with proven liver metastases (patient group) and 23 normal volunteers (control group) were recruited in this study. Each subject was administered an intravenous bolus injection of SonoVue (0.6 ml). The arrival time in the hepatic artery (AT HA), time to peak in the hepatic artery (TTP HA), peak intensity of the hepatic artery (PI HA), arrival time in the hepatic vein (AT HV), time to peak in the hepatic vein (TTP HV) and peak intensity of the hepatic vein (PI HV) were measured with the use of time–intensity curve software. The hepatic artery to vein transit time (HAVTT) was calculated as the difference between the arrival times in the hepatic artery and the hepatic vein. AT HA, TTP HA, AT HV, TTP HV and HAVTT in the patient group were significantly shorter than those of the control group (P<0.01). PI HA and PI HV in the patient group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.01).These results suggest that CEUS assessment of changes in the haemodynamic parameters of the hepatic artery and vein help to diagnose liver metastases. This functional imaging technique may contribute to the early detection of micrometastases in the liver.