AIM: To analyze the characteristics of conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in the diagnosis of benign and malignant orbital tumors and to discuss the diagnostic value.

METHODS: Thirty-five patients diagnosed as orbital tumors were selected from May 2011 to Jan. 2014 in Shenyang the Fourth Hospital of People. Conventional ultrasound and CEUS were used to analyze the morphologies, the tumor echo and the color doppler characteristics of the orbital tumors. SonoLiver software was used to analyze the ultrasonic imaging data and the parameters of the ultrasonic imaging.

RESULTS: The conventional ultrasound and CEUS showed that in 35 patients diagnosed as orbital tumors, 27 cases were benign and 8 cases were malignant. Compared with post-operation pathology diagnose, the coincidence rate of was 91%(32/35). Ultrasound contrast parameters showed that the rising time(RT)and the mean transit time(mTT)in the malignant group was lower than in the benign group(P<0.05). The peak time(TTP)in the benign group and the malignant group was the same(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The application of ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound can increased the coincidence rate in the diagnosis of benign and malignant orbital tumors and it is benefit for the per-operation qualitation diagnosis.