Tumor vascularity at contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of resectable ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Purpose: To evaluate the vascular patterns of resectable ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas at contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Materials and methods: CEUS of 42 resected ductal adenocarcinomas of the pancreas were retrospectly reviewed. All the lesions were studied with CEUS by using iv bolus injection of sulfur hexafluoride in the form of microbubbles (SonoVueBracco,Italy). The lesion enhancement was scored in comparison to the normal parenchyma and to the precontrastographic aspect of the lesion as: 1=poorly vascularized (more than 50% avascular) or 2=well vascularized (less than 50% avascular). All th…