Significance of angio-echography for diognosis of small intrahepatic metastasis

Significance of intra operative angio-echography under CO2 gas injection into hepatic artery, for diagnosis of small intrahepatic metastasis in cases of HCC, were investigated. 23 cases of HCC were studied, whose resected specimen were exactly confirmed if there were small satellite nodules smaller than 10mm or not. 9 cases among these 23 cases, had 16 nodules. 14 cases had not any nodules. Picture of angio-echography were divided into three types. There are positive enhance, negative enhance, and non enhance. 13 nodules among 16 nodules are recognized as positive enhance, 3 nodules are also ecognized as negative enhance. 5 nodules among them had not detected by plain echo and these are ruled out only by angio-echo. Smallest one among these nodules are 4mm diameter, On the other hand, there are 14 cases, who had not any satellite nodules. In 4 cases of them, it was suspected to have some sateilite nodules, by plain echo. Rut angio-echo showed non enhance in all 4 cases, then existence of satellite nodules are denied. Sensitivity both true positive and true negative are 100% about the diagnosis of small intrahepatic metastatic nodules.