Contrast-enhanced sonography versus biopsy for the differential diagnosis of thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Figure 1 Study design. PVT FNB: Portal vein thrombus fine needle biopsy; CEUS: 2nd generation Contrast-Enhanced US (CEUS) of thrombus; ¹Guiding needle on portion of thrombus showing on CEUS precocious iso or hyperenhancement pattern; ²No increase in size and distribution with preservation of vessel wall or recanalization/shrinkage, or disappearance of a PVT within the 6 mo of follow-up were accepted as proof of a benign portal vein thrombus; ³No change in feature of thrombus and in the diameter of the segment of involved vein at 6 mo of follow-up; ⁴Increase in size with infiltration of perivascular parenchyma and interruption of vessel wall was US features indicative of malignant thrombosis.