Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound Perfusion Imaging and Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Feasibility Study

The microcirculation plays a crucial role in the distribution of perfusion to organs. Studies have shown that microcirculatory dysfunction is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. Hence, assessment of liver perfusion offers valuable information on the (patho)physiological state of the liver. The current review explores techniques in perfusion imaging that can be used intraoperatively. Available modalities include dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound, handheld vital microscopes, indocyanine green fluorescence angiography, and laser contrast speckle imaging. Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound relays information on deep tissue perfusion and is a commonly used technique to assess tumor perfusion. Handheld vital microscopes provide direct visualization of the sinusoidal architectural structure of the liver, which is a unique feature of this technique. Intraoperative fluorescence imaging uses indocyanine green, a dye that is administered intravenously to visualize microvascular perfusion when excited using near-infrared light. Laser speckle contrast imaging produces non-contact large surface-based tissue perfusion imaging free from movement- or pressure-related artefacts. In this review, we discuss the intrinsic advantages and disadvantages of these techniques and their clinical and/or scientific applications.

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An unusual presentation of epigastric pain due to thrombophlebitis of a recanalised umbilical vein – case report

Perspectives in Surgery ◽

10.33699/pis.2019.98.8.326-327 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 98 (8) ◽

pp. 326-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Abdominal Pain ◽

Case Report ◽

Portal Hypertension ◽

Liver Disease ◽

Epigastric Pain ◽

Umbilical Vein ◽

History Of ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

Inflammatory Changes

Introduction: The umbilical vein can become recanalised due to portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis but the condition is rarely clinically significant. Although bleeding from this enlarged vein is a known complication, the finding of thrombophlebitis has not been previously described. Case report: We report the case of a 62-year-old male with a history of liver cirrhosis due to alcoholic liver disease presenting to hospital with epigastric pain. A CT scan of the patient’s abdomen revealed a thrombus with surrounding inflammatory changes in a recanalised umbilical vein. The patient was managed conservatively and was discharged home the following day. Conclusion: Thrombophlebitis of a recanalised umbilical vein is a rare cause of abdominal pain in patients with liver cirrhosis.

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Potential application of dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound in predicting microvascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation ◽

10.3233/ch-201085 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Yi Dong ◽

Yijie Qiu ◽

Daohui Yang ◽

Lingyun Yu ◽

Dan Zuo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Microvascular Invasion ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽

Negative Group ◽

Clinical Value ◽

Positive Group ◽

Quantitative Perfusion ◽

Dynamic Contrast Enhanced ◽

Contrast Enhanced

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasound (D-CEUS) in predicting the microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 16 patients with surgery and histopathologically proved HCC lesions were included. Patients were classified according to the presence of MVI: MVI positive group (n = 6) and MVI negative group (n = 10). Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examinations were performed within a week before surgery. Dynamic analysis was performed by VueBox ® software (Bracco, Italy). Three regions of interests (ROIs) were set in the center of HCC lesions, at the margin of HCC lesions and in the surrounding liver parenchyma accordingly. Time intensity curves (TICs) were generated and quantitative perfusion parameters including WiR (wash-in rate), WoR (wash-out rate), WiAUC (wash-in area under the curve), WoAUC (wash-out area under the curve) and WiPi (wash-in perfusion index) were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: All of HCC lesions showed arterial hyperenhancement (100 %) and at the late phase as hypoenhancement (75 %) in CEUS. Among all CEUS quantitative parameters, the WiAUC and WoAUC were higher in MVI positive group than in MVI negative group in the center HCC lesions (P < 0.05), WiAUC, WoAUC and WiPI were higher in MVI positive group than in MVI negative group at the margin of HCC lesions. WiR and WoR were significant higher in MVI positive group. CONCLUSIONS: D-CEUS with quantitative perfusion analysis has potential clinical value in predicting the existence of MVI in HCC lesions.

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