Equilibrium phase images of the liver using a contrast-enhancement boost instead of the portal vein phase

Figure 2 An example of a clinical image used in the evaluation. A 77-year-old woman with a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (arrows) based on a pathological diagnosis. The qualitative evaluation results showed that the vessel visualization of the portal vein provided by the contrast enhancement boost of equilibrium phase [CE-boost (EP)] images and that provided by the portal vein phase (PVP) images was comparable. CE-boost (EP) was significantly superior in lesion conspicuity. In this patient’s case, the vessel visualization of the portal vein was rated with an average of 4.00 points on PVP and 4.00 points on CE-boost (EP). The lesion conspicuity was rated with an average of 3.50 points on PVP and 4.00 points on CE-boost (EP). A and B: Portal vein phase images; C and D: Equilibrium phase images; E and F: Contrast enhancement boost of equilibrium phase images.