CHARACTERIZATION AND DETECTION OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA: COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ULTRASOUND CONTRAST AGENTS SONOVUE AND LEVOVIST: WHICH ONE IS BETTER?

Purpose: SonoVue (Altana Pharma, Konstanz) and Levovist (Schering AG, Berlin) are both contrast agents, which are helpful in characterization and detection of malignant liver lesions. This study was performed to find out, which of both contrast agents is better in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods and Materials: In a prospective study 63 patients with histological proof of hepatocellular carcinoma were examined with both, SonoVue and Levovist, respectively. In all patients HCC was detected by B-mode-sonography. After injection of 2,4ml SonoVue i.v., the liver was examined continuously for…