Color Doppler ultrasound and contrast‑enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of lacrimal apparatus tumors

Color Doppler ultrasound and contrast‑enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of lacrimal apparatus tumors were investigated. In total, 48 patients undergoing preoperative two‑dimensional and color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS examinations were included in this study. Conventional ultrasound and CEUS characteristics of 48 patients pathologically and clinically diagnosed with lacrimal apparatus tumors were retrospectively analyzed. Results of conventional ultrasound of 29 cases with pleomorphic adenoma of lacrimal gland showed moderate‑hypoechogenic solid masses in lacrimal gland; CEUS displayed two enhancement modes: High, fast‑developed slow‑extinct and overall uniform enhancement (20/29, 68.97%) and high, fast‑developed slow‑extinct, centripetal, uniform or non‑uniform enhancement (9/29, 31.03%); after enhancement, the mass edge was clear without changes in size. Results of conventional ultrasound of 6 cases with adenoid cystic carcinoma of lacrimal gland showed hypoechogenic solid masses with unclear edge, irregular form, non‑uniform echo, and abundant blood flow signals; the CEUS displayed high, fast‑developed fast‑extinct and overall uniform enhancement; after enhancement, mass edge was unclear and masses were larger than that in two‑dimensional ultrasound. Results of conventional ultrasound of 10 cases with lacrimal sac cyst showed non‑uniform, hypoechogenic masses, or cystic solid mixed masses with clear edge but no blood flow signal; the CEUS displayed peripheral circular enhancement and no enhancement inside. Results of conventional ultrasound of 3 cases with adenocarcinoma of lacrimal sac showed hypoechogenic solid masses with unclear edge, irregular form, non‑uniform echo inside, and abundant blood flow signals in lacrimal sac; CEUS displayed high, fast‑developed fast‑extinct and overall uniform enhancement; after enhancement, masses with irregular shapes were obviously larger than that in two‑dimensional ultrasound. CEUS shows the microcirculation of tumors and surrounding tissues. Combination of two‑dimensional and color Doppler ultrasound can improve the preoperative qualitative diagnosis of tumors and provide references for the selection of operation methods and determination of tumor resection scope.