[Investigation of the blood supply of liver tumors--ultrasonography with contrast agents].

: Despite the significant advances in technology the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound examination still doesn't reach that of modern CT and MR scans. A new modality to improve the potential of traditional ultrasound, in patients with nodular hepatic disease, is the use of ultrasonographic contrast agents. The ultrasound examinations using contrast agents enable the analysis of the vascularisation, and flow characteristics of foci, including that of the portal circulation, consequently the more accurate characterisation of the focal masses. Ultrasonographic contrast agents can be used in assessing the effectiveness of tumor therapy, as well as in directing therapeutic interventions. The author discusses the basics of ultrasound contrast imaging, the different types of contrast agents, and their mechanism of action. She presents the significance of the method in focal hepatic disease in light of the available literature.