Infusion hepatic angiography in the detection of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

Abstract

Selective celiac angiography, conventional hepatic angiography and infusion hepatic angiography were utilized for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in 90 patients. The first 2 methods were not always able to detect small foci measuring < 2 cm in diameter, due to vascular proliferation which cannot be distinctly identified by conventional angiography. In these cases infusion hepatic angiography enhanced the detection of the foci. This method is indispensible in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.