Delayed contrast enhancement of hepatic parenchyma after intravenous sonographic contrast agent: unusual phenomenon. Case report and review of literature

David Laszlo Tarnoki; Adam Domonkos Tarnoki; Hunor Sukosd; Aniko Folhoffer; Zoltan Harkanyi

doi:10.1007/s40477-020-00429-y

Delayed contrast enhancement of hepatic parenchyma after intravenous sonographic contrast agent: unusual phenomenon. Case report and review of literature

J Ultrasound. 2021 Mar;24(1):3-9. doi: 10.1007/s40477-020-00429-y. Epub 2020 Jan 24.

Authors

David Laszlo Tarnoki¹, Adam Domonkos Tarnoki², Hunor Sukosd², Aniko Folhoffer³, Zoltan Harkanyi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Imaging, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. tarnoki4@gmail.com.
² Department of Medical Imaging, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
³ 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Heim Pál Childrens Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.

Abstract

Aim: A case of heterogeneous late-phase hepatic enhancement (HLHE) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with SonoVue is presented, where HLHE lasted after 50 min of injection.

Methods: This study aims to review prior literature on this topic, to characterize the features of HLHE in the liver, and to find possible and reliable explanations for this phenomenon.

Results: From literature, thus far five publications discuss this phenomenon with a total of 21 patients.

Conclusion: We suggest that phagocytosis of contrast agent microbubbles by macrophages, and lymphocytosis of peripheral blood due to stress conditions of the patients might be in the background of HLHE.

Keywords: Contrast enhanced ultrasound; Delayed contrast enhancement; Sonography.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Contrast Media
Humans
Liver Neoplasms*
Microbubbles
Parenchymal Tissue
Phospholipids
Sulfur Hexafluoride
Ultrasonography

Substances

Contrast Media
Phospholipids
Sulfur Hexafluoride