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

Figure 2 Summary of combined test results. ¹Iso, hyper, or hypoenhancement pattern of thrombus compared to the surrounding parenchyma; ²Reference standard of benign thrombosis is a US evidence of evolving thrombus: no increase in size or distribution with vessel wall preservation or recanalization/shrinkage, or disappearance of a PVT within the 6 mo of follow-up were accepted as evidence of a benign portal vein thrombus; ³Us image of evolution, indicating malignant thrombosis: increase in size with infiltration of perivascular parenchyma and interruption of vessel wall was US features of malignant thrombosis; ⁴No change in thrombus image and in the diameter of the segment of vein involved at 6 mo of follow-up; ⁵PVT FNB were repeated guiding the needle to the thrombus territories with enhancing pattern.