AIM: To analyze the characteristics of conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in choroidal metastatic carcinoma and choroidal hemangioma, and to explore the clinical application value of conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS in the differential diagnosis of choroidal metastatic carcinoma and choroidal hemangioma.

METHODS: The conventional ultrasound and CEUS data of 17 cases(17 eyes)with choroidal metastatic carcinoma and 35 cases(35 eyes)with choroidal hemangioma treated in the Fourth People's Hospital of Shenyang from May 2010 to January 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. The two-dimensional color ultrasound and the color Doppler characteristics of the tumors were observed by conventional ultrasound. CEUS was used to observe the contrast agent perfusion intensity and changes of tumors, and CEUS dynamic data was analyzed to obtain TI curves and CEUS parameters.

RESULTS: Conventional ultrasound examination showed that choroidal metastatic carcinoma had lower echo, less uniform, more uniform uplift, and wavy surface compared with choroidal hemangioma. The accuracy of diagnosis of choroidal metastatic carcinoma and choroidal hemangioma were 59%(10/17)and 68%(24/35)respectively. CEUS examination showed that the TI curve types of choroidal metastatic carcinoma were mostly in fast-in and fast-out mode(14/17), while the TI curve types of choroidal hemangioma were mostly in fast-in and slow-out mode(31/35). Both maximum intensity(IMAX)and rise time(RT)of choroid metastatic carcinoma were lower than those of choroid hemangioma(P<0.05). The accuracy of conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS in the diagnosis of choroidal metastatic carcinoma and choroidal hemangioma was 82%(14/17)and 88%(31/35)respectively.

CONCLUSION: Conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS can provide a relatively reliable imaging basis for the differential diagnosis of choroidal metastatic carcinoma and choroidal hemangioma, which is helpful for the early qualitative diagnosis of the two tumors.