Role of real-time contrast-enhanced sonography in the diagnosis of uterine leiomyomas: preliminary experience

Objective To investigate the role of real-time contrast-enhanced sonography with agent SonoVue in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of uterine leiomyomas. Methods 45 patients with uterine leiomyomas or adenomyosis were examined by sonographic CPS (contrast pulsed sequencing) technology with new contrast agent SonoVue. Results Seventy-one leiomyomas were proved on contrast-enhanced sonography including five small leiomyomas which were not detected by two-dimensional and color Doppler sonography. The contrast-enhanced features of leiomyomas were: 1. Peripheral portion of the tumor was first centripetally filled in the early phase; 2. Iso-enhancement was in the middle phase; 3. peripheral filled-out centripetally was in the late phase, while the filled pattern of adenomyoma was heterogeneous enhanced without peripheral filled-in or filled-out. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced sonography has clinical significance in the diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma.