@article{oai:repo.qst.go.jp:00045965,
 author = {Yamada, Shuuji and Ootou, Masao and Katou, Hirotoshi and Tsujii, Hirohiko and Fukuda, Hiroyuki and Yukizawa, Seigo and Maruyama, Hitoshi and Yoshikawa, Masaharu and Matsutani, Shouichi and Ebara, Masaaki and Saisho, Hiromitsu and 大藤 正雄 and 加藤 博敏 and 辻井 博彦 and 吉川 正治 and 江原 正明 and 税所 宏光},
 issue = {3-4},
 journal = {Japanese Journal of Medical Imaging},
 month = {},
 note = {OBJECTIVE: To obtain vacular flow images based on contrast time-intensity using the contrast-enhanced (CE) three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) imaging technique and to identify tumor vascular flow patterns of small hepatocellular carcinomas.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced 3D gray scale US images in 5 healthy subjects were obtained and the contrast time-intensity of blood flow was measured for the celiac artery, the portal vein, and the hepatic veins to determine the appropriate imaging protocols for evaluating liver vascular flow. Then, employing these protocols, CE 3D Fusion US imaging was performed in 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas measuring 3 cm or less in diameter, and the characteristic blood flow patterns of the tumors were identified based on the image findings.
RESULTS: With regard to contrast time-intensity, celiac artery blood flow showed maximum intensity at 20 s after the start of contrast agent injection, followed by a rapid decrease in intensity. Portal vein blood flow showed maximum intensity at 80 to 180 s, followed by a gradual decrease. Hepatic vein blood flow showed naximum intensity from 80 to 180 s, followd by a gradual decrease. The contrast time-intensity of blood flow in the celiac artery, the portal vein, and the hepatic veins showed a gradual decrease to low levels at 300 s or later.
The imaging protocols determined based on these results were then employed for CE 3D Fusion US imaging studies of small hepatocellular carcinomas measuring 3 cm or less in diameter and identified the characteristic vascular patterns of tumors as the flush sign, the combination of arterial contrast hyperintensity and portal contrast hypointensity, and the marginal vessel.
CONCLUSION: By obtaining CE 3D Fusion US images using protocols based on the contrast time-intensity, it is possible to visualize the characteristic tumor vascular flow patterns of small hepatocellular carcinomas.},
 pages = {123--132},
 title = {Contrast Time-Intensity of Liver Vascular Flow and Tumor Vascular Flow Patterns of Small Hepatocellular Carcinomas in Contrast-Enhanced Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Imaging},
 volume = {24},
 year = {2005}
}