Observation of the hepatoma by the real-time two-dimensional echography: Its clinical significance and prospect

We studied the diagnostic capacity of the real-time two-dimensional Doppler echography (2-D-Doppler) in the patients of hepatoma. Four cases with interesting findings in this method are presented. Some specific diagnostic capacity of this method revealed are as follows. 1) Identification and follow of any vessel became easier by colour display of the blood stream. 2) Direction of the blood flow were easily recognized by the difference of colour. Brightness corresponded proportionally with the flow velocity, so the change of velocity was recognized without difficulty. 3) 2-D-Doppler was also useful for recognition of both the changes of arterial blood stream after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and the arterio-portal shunt. 4) Colour display of portal flow was sometimes difficult in liver cirrhosis in which velocity was small. This technique revealed us the new information, especially, about the blood stream in the patient of hepatoma.