Ultrasound contrast agent Sonazoid for the diagnosis of hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma: a case report

BACKGROUND: An angiomyolipoma usually occurs in the kidneys and rarely in the liver. Hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma (HEAML), a rare variant of angiomyolipoma, possesses malignant potential and mimics the imaging features of hepatocellular carcinoma. Sonazoid® (perfluorobutane microbubbles), a new contrast agent that facilitates hepatic parenchyma-specific Kupffer phase imaging on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), is useful for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old man with HEAML underwent CEUS using Sonazoid®, in which new concepts for ultrasonography-based differentiation between HEAML and hepatocellular carcinoma were applied. CONCLUSIONS: This case report provides clinicians and radiologists with a reference for distinguishing HEAML from hepatocellular carcinoma based on CEUS using Sonazoid®.