Comparison of perflubutane-enhanced US images of vessels in HCC and those in pathological specimens

The angioarchitecture in HCC nodules is very important in the diagnosis of the malignant grade. However, there are few studies on the correlation between US images obtained by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and the thickness of vessels in HCC nodules We observed vessels in HCC nodules by micro flow imaging (MFI) and compared the echo signal in the arterial phase with vessels in pathological specimens. Samples were 11 nodules in 11 HCC cases. We arranged the cut-surface of the resected HCC and the cross section of US images. The branched thick signal echo was observed at the 55 spots one second after the start of MFI, while 77 muscular arteries of diameter over 100 um were identified. The concordance rate was 73%. From these results, it seems possible to estimate the thickness of arteries from MFI images which should be useful for the diagnosis of the malignant grade of HCC.