Ultrasound imaging features of hepatic regenerative nodules in Budd-Chiari syndrome after portacaval anastomosis

Objective To investigate the routine ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of hepatic nodules in Budd-Chiari syndrome(BCS) after portacaval anastomosis.Methods Routine ultrasonography and CEUS were performed in 18 BCS patients with hepatic nodules after portacaval anastomosis.Results Appearance after portosystemic anastomosis,multiplicity,small size,presence of peripheral rim and hypervascularization were important ultrasound imaging features of hepatic regenerative nodules in patients with BCS.Nodules showed " quick wash-in and slow wash-out" pattern in CEUS.Sixteen cases showed center-to-periphery enhancement pattern in arterial phase and hyper-enhancement in portal phase and late phase.Two cases showed periphery-to-center enhancement pattern in arterial phase and periphery enhancement in portal phase and late phase.Conclusions Hepatic regenerative have different features on routine ultrasound and CEUS in patients with BCS after portacaval anastomosis,which are useful for differential diagnosis. Key words: Ultrasonography; Microbubbles; Hepatic vein thrombosis; Hepatic regenerative nodule