Doppler ultrasonography of hepatic artery in malignant liver tumors

SUMMARY Hepatic artery is dominant compared to portal vein in liver tumor vascularization. Malignant tumors have uncontrolled growth and spread onto neighbouring tissues through a tumor vascular network. Based on this we discussed the use arterial flow parametrers including systolic and diastolic speed, Doppler perfusion index, and resistance index for early detection of liver metastasis. We also discussed possibility to make differential diagnosis from other disease such as arterial stenosis, liver cir- rhosis, steatosis using these parameters in better diagnosis confirmation.