Heterogeneous delayed enhancement of hepatic parenchyma after intravenous infusion of sonographic contrast agent: a new hypothesis

Purpose. The aim of this paper was to report a heterogeneous latephase hepatic enhancement pattern observed after administration of a sonographic contrast agent and to present an aetiological hypothesis for the phenomenon. Materials and methods. A total of 1,729 (1,012 women and 717 men; age range 28–82; mean age 51) patients underwent contrastenhanced sonography of the liver. The examination was performed with a low mechanical index (MI <0.09) after injection of sulphur-hexafluoride-filled microbubbles, using different fonographic equipment and different contrast-specific algorithms. Results. Heterogeneous delayed liver enhancement was observed in six patients in the late phase (180 s), wi…