Purpose To investigate the features of conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging in renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML). Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the conventional ultrasound and CEUS images of the 30 patients with renal EAML who were confirmed by pathology in the General Hospital of the PLA from November 2010 to October 2022. The location,size,classfication,echo,boundary,shape,growth pattern and whether color Doppler ultrasound detects blood flow signals were observed by conventional ultrasound. CEUS was used to analyze the wash-in pattern,enhancement direction,peak enhancement intensity,the uniformity after enhancement,wash-out pattern and pseudocapsule sign,respectively. Results A total of 30 patients (n=30 lesions) were enrolled. The maximal diameter of the lesions varied from 1.4 to 12.6 cm. 17 cases occurred in the right kidney and 13 cases in the left kidney. On grayscale ultrasound,28 cases showed solid type,2 were cystic solid;18 cases demonstrated hypoechoic,10 were hyperechoic;the solid component in the cystic solid lesion was isoechoic in 1 case and hyperechoic in 1 case;24 cases displayed well-defined and 19 cases appeared regular shape;22 cases were presented exophytic growth. Color Doppler ultrasound detected blood flow in 24 cases. Of all 30 patients with EAML,CEUS was performed in 13 cases,6 lesions with simultaneous wash-in;10 cases with centripetal enhancement;9 cases with hyper-enhancement;10 cases with homogeneous enhancement;5 lesions with simultaneous wash-out;9 cases with pseudocapsule sign. Conclusion The ultrasonographic appearance of EAML has a tendency to be hypoechoic with exophytic growth and clear boundary on conventional ultrasound images,and centripetal enhancement,homogeneous hyperenhancement and presence of pseudocapsule on CEUS images. All these findings are contributed to the diagnosis of EAML.

Purpose To investigate the features of conventional and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) imaging in renal epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML). Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed the conventional ultrasound and CEUS images of the 30 patients with renal EAML who were confirmed by pathology in the General Hospital of the PLA from November 2010 to October 2022. The location,size,classfication,echo,boundary,shape,growth pattern and whether color Doppler ultrasound detects blood flow signals were observed by conventional ultrasound. CEUS was used to analyze the wash-in pattern,enhancement direction,peak enhancement intensity,the uniformity after enhancement,wash-out pattern and pseudocapsule sign,respectively. Results A total of 30 patients (n=30 lesions) were enrolled. The maximal diameter of the lesions varied from 1.4 to 12.6 cm. 17 cases occurred in the right kidney and 13 cases in the left kidney. On grayscale ultrasound,28 cases showed solid type,2 were cystic solid;18 cases demonstrated hypoechoic,10 were hyperechoic;the solid component in the cystic solid lesion was isoechoic in 1 case and hyperechoic in 1 case;24 cases displayed well-defined and 19 cases appeared regular shape;22 cases were presented exophytic growth. Color Doppler ultrasound detected blood flow in 24 cases. Of all 30 patients with EAML,CEUS was performed in 13 cases,6 lesions with simultaneous wash-in;10 cases with centripetal enhancement;9 cases with hyper-enhancement;10 cases with homogeneous enhancement;5 lesions with simultaneous wash-out;9 cases with pseudocapsule sign. Conclusion The ultrasonographic appearance of EAML has a tendency to be hypoechoic with exophytic growth and clear boundary on conventional ultrasound images,and centripetal enhancement,homogeneous hyperenhancement and presence of pseudocapsule on CEUS images. All these findings are contributed to the diagnosis of EAML.