Abstract: Objectiv To explore the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography （CEU） in differential diagnosis of patients with focal nodular hyperplasia （FNH） and hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. Methods Ninety patients with FNH and 90 with HCC were enrolled in this study between February 2015 and February 2017, and all patients underwent CEU examination. The region of interest（ROI） was analyzed by SonoLiver CAP software,and the maximum of intensity （IMAX）,the time to peak （TTP）,the rise time （RT）,the mean transit time （mTT） and the perfusion index（PI） were obtained. The types and parameter distributions in dynamic vascular model（DVP） curve were compared between the two groups. Results The IMAX and mTT in FNH group were （142.6±17.8）% and （268.9±34.5） s,significantly greater than [（125.3±14.7）% and （117.8±15.4） s,P<0.05] in HCC group;the RT,PI and TTP were（17.2±2.9） s,（91.2±12.8） and （30.4±5.2） s,much lower than [（21.5±4.3） s,（45.6±7.3） and （34.1±5.9） s,P<0.05] in HCC group;the type I （regression type）,type II （end regression type） and type III （negative type） DVP curve in HCC group accounted for 75.6%,22.2% and 2.2%,significantly different as compared to 43.3%,54.4% and 2.2% in the FNH group （P<0.05）;the percentages of type I,type II and type III DVP parameter distribution in HCC group were 72.2%,25.6% and 2.2%,while they were 40.0%,56.7% and 3.3% in FNH group,respectively,statistically significantly different between the two groups （x²=19.121,P<0.05）. Conclusion Quantitative parameters of CEU and visual imaging of DVP parameters are helpful in differentiating patients with FNH and with HCC in clinical practice.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Focal nodular hyperplasia, Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, Dynamic vascular model, Differential diagnosis