Abstract
An 8-year experience with 36 cases of metastatic liver cancer with tumor diameter of less than 3 cm is reviewed for ultrasonographic features.
Majority of metastatic liver cancers less than 3 cm in diameter showed round shape and thin marginal hypoechoic zone. Internal echo patterns of them were very diverse and they showed hyperechoic, isoechoic, hypoechoic and complex pattern. But complex pattern was recognized in the tumors larger than 2 cm. Majority of tumors larger than 2 cm showed heterogeneous whole arrangement of internal echo.
Colorectal cancer had a tendency to show hyperechoic pattern. All cases of pancreas cancer revealed hypoechoic or isoechoic pattern. But gastric cancer didn't show the characteristic pattern in ultrasound.
Another comparative study between ultrasonographic and histopathologic features was performed in 2 cases of metastatic liver cancer from the colon.
Marginal hypoechoic zone seemed to be caused by compression of parenchyma surrounding the tumor and viable cancer cells in outer layer of the tumor. Hyperechoic internal echo might be caused by a mixture of degeneration, necrosis, bleeding and fibrosis in the tumor.
