Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (DCE-US) for the Characterization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

DCE-US is able to detect and quantify differences in perfusion kinetics between HCC and ICC. Whereas arterial contrast enhancement patterns may overlap between HCC and ICC, a timed characterization of wash-out kinetics may offer an additional tool to characterize HCC and ICC. The presence of a rapid loss of signal intensity in the early portal venous phase is significantly higher in ICC than in HCC lesions.