Orbital tumor has complex histological types and it is difficult for clinical differential diagnosis.Therefore, it is badly in need of a new diagnostic technology to distinguish its benign and malignancy.

This study aimed to analyze and compare the characteristics of contrast ultrasound image between benign and malignant orbital neoplasms and evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast ultrasound to orbital tumor.

The clinical data of 24 patients with malignant orbital neoplasms and 51 patients with benign orbital neoplasms were retrospectively analyzed in Taihe Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine from September 2010 to September 2013.Contrast ultrasound examination was carried out on all the patients using MyLab Twice color ultrasonic device under the informed consent.SonoVue solution of 2.0 ml was intravenously injected and then the state and dynamic graphs of orbital tumors were collected.According to the classification of enhanced levels and patterns, the imaging features of orbital neoplasms were evaluated, and time-intensity curve (TIC) and dynamic vascular pattern (DVP) curve were obtained with SonoLiver software.The general ultrasonic signs and contrast ultrasonic characteristics between benign and malignant neoplasms were compared.

Hyper-enhanced lesions were found in 62.5%(15/24) and 27.5% (14/51), and iso-intensity lesions were found in 20.8% (5/24) and 49.0% (25/51) in the malignant orbital neoplasm patients and benign ones, respectively, with a significant difference in enhanced types between them (χ²=26.40, P<0.01). Based on the enhanced mode, heterogeneity enhancement lesions were found in 75.0% (18/24) and 25.5% (13/51), and hemogeneity enhancement lesions were seen in 25.0% (6/24) and 47.1% (24/51) in the malignant orbital neoplasm patients and benign ones, respectively, showing a significant differnce between them (χ²=30.40, P<0.01). The 58.3% patients showed rapid rising and sharp descending TIC curves, and 75.0% patients showed the biphasic wave DVP curves in the malignant lesions; while in the benign lesions, the TIC curves of 78.7% patients were quick lift and slow dessend, and the DVP curves of 74.5% patients appeared to be positive phasic wave.These curve features were significantly different between the malignant lesions and benign ones (TIC: Z=-3.130, P=0.002; DVP: Z=-4.730, P=0.000).

Contrast-ultrasound examination shows that different tissue-derived orbital neoplasms have varied enhanced modes and types.Contrast-ultrasound examination is helpful for the differential diagnosis of orbital neoplasms.

Orbital neoplasms/ultrasonography; Image enhancement/methods; Contrast media; Ultrasonography/methods; Diagnosis, differential; Humans