Diagnostic Accuracy of CEUS in the Differential Diagnosis of Small (≤ 20 mm) and Subcentimetric (≤ 10 mm) Focal Liver Lesions in Comparison with Histology

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Evaluierung der diagnostischen Treffsicherheit der Kontrastmittelsonografie in der Differenzialdiagnose kleiner Leberläsionen. Material und Methoden: 1349 Patienten mit im B-Bild und Power Doppler unklarem Lebertumor wurden prospektiv mittels KM-Sono multizentrisch mit standardisiertem Protokoll (mechanischer Index < 0,4, Phase/Puls-Inversion-Technik, Sonovue-Bolus-Injektion) untersucht. Die Differenzialdiagnose im KM-Sono basierte auf tumortypischen Vaskularisationsmustern in der arteriellen, portalvenösen Phase und Spätphase (EFSUMB-Leitlinie). 335 Patienten mit fokalen Leberläsionen (FLLs) ≤ 20 mm wurden analysiert. Die Tumorklassifizierung nach KM-Sono wurde mit der Histologie (73,2 %) oder in einigen Fällen mit CT und/oder MRT verglichen. Ergebnisse: Eine definitive Tumordiagnose war in 329 FLLs möglich. Die Enddiagnose der ≤ 20 mm FLLs mit histologischer Sicherung (n = 241) beinhaltete 87 benigne und 154 maligne Tumore. Die diagnostische Treffsicherheit des KM-Sono bei ≤ 20 mm histologisch gesicherten FLLs war 83,8 %. Die KM-Sono identifizierte 144 /154 maligne FLLs (Sensitivität 93,5 %) und 58 /87 benigne FLLs (Spezifität 66,7 %). 24 /241 FLLs blieben nach der KM-Sono unklar (9,9 %). Die KM-Sono klassifizierte 15 /241 FLLs (6,2 %) falsch (12 benigne und 3 maligne FLLs). Die positive Voraussagekraft der KM-Sono bei malignen FLLs war 92,3 %, die negative Voraussagekraft 95,1 %. Von 241 histologisch gesicherten FLLs waren 62 FLLs ≤ 10 mm (diagnostische Treffsicherheit KM-Sono 80,6 %) und 179 FLLs > 10 mm ≤ 20 mm (diagnostische Treffsicherheit KM-Sono 80,6 %). Schlussfolgerung: Die KM-Sonografie hat eine hohe diagnostische Treffsicherheit in der Differenzierung kleiner und kleinster (≤ 1 cm) FLL im klinischen Alltag.

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Evaluation of Nine Commercial Serological Tests for the Diagnosis of Human Hepatic Cyst Echinococcosis and the Differential Diagnosis with Other Focal Liver Lesions: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11020167 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 167

Author(s):

Francesca Tamarozzi ◽

Silvia Stefania Longoni ◽

Ambra Vola ◽

Monica Degani ◽

Stefano Tais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Diagnostic Algorithm ◽

Solid Content ◽

Focal Liver Lesions ◽

Liver Lesions ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy Study ◽

Liquid Content ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Accuracy Study

The differential diagnosis of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE) may be challenging. When imaging is insufficient, serology can be applied, but no consensus diagnostic algorithm exists. We evaluated the performances of nine serological tests commercialized in Europe for the diagnosis of “echinococcosis”. We performed a diagnostic accuracy study using a panel of sera from patients with hepatic CE (n = 45 “liquid” content stages, n = 25 “solid” content stages) and non-CE focal liver lesions (n = 54 with “liquid” content, n = 11 with “solid” content). The diagnosis and staging of CE were based on ultrasound (gold standard). Nine commercial seroassays (5 ELISA, 2 WB, 1 Chemiluminescence Immunoassay [CLIA] and 1 Immunochromatographic test [ICT]) were the index tests. Sensitivity (Se) ranged from 43 to 94% and from 31 to 87%, and specificity (Sp) from 68 to 100% and from 94 to 100%, when borderline results were considered positive or negative, respectively. Three seroassays (2 ELISA, 1 WB) were excluded from further analyses due to poor performances. When tests were combined, Sp was 98–100%. The best results were obtained using the WB-LDBIO alone (Se 83%) or as a third test after two non-WB tests (Se 67–86%). A validated WB or two non-WB tests, read with stringent criteria (borderline = negative and considered positive only if concordant positive), possibly confirmed by the WB, appear sensible approaches.

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Quantitative Analysis of the Time–Intensity Curve of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound of the Liver: Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Liver Lesions

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11071244 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1244

Author(s):

Sonja Schwarz ◽

Dirk-André Clevert ◽

Michael Ingrisch ◽

Thomas Geyer ◽

Vincent Schwarze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Late Phase ◽

Focal Liver Lesions ◽

Liver Lesions ◽

Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽

Contrast Enhanced ◽

Malignant Lesions ◽

Benign Liver ◽

Benign Liver Lesions

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative perfusion parameters in contrast-enhanced ultrasound to differentiate malignant from benign liver lesions. Methods: In this retrospective study 134 patients with a total of 139 focal liver lesions were included who underwent contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) between 2008 and 2018. All examinations were performed by a single radiologist with more than 15 years of experience using a second-generation blood pool contrast agent. The standard of reference was histopathology (n = 60), MRI or CT (n = 75) or long-term CEUS follow up (n = 4). For post processing regions of interests were drawn both inside of target lesions and the liver background. Time–intensity curves were fitted to the CEUS DICOM dataset and the rise time (RT) of contrast enhancement until peak enhancement, and a late-phase ratio (LPR) of signal intensities within the lesion and the background tissue, were calculated and compared between malignant and benign liver lesion using Student’s t-test. Quantitative parameters were evaluated with respect to their diagnostic accuracy using receiver operator characteristic curves. Both features were then combined in a logistic regression model and the cumulated accuracy was assessed. Results: RT of benign lesions (14.8 ± 13.8 s, p = 0.005), and in a subgroup analysis, particular hemangiomas (23.4 ± 16.2 s, p < 0.001) differed significantly to malignant lesions (9.3 ± 3.8 s). The LPR was significantly different between benign (1.59 ± 1.59, p < 0.001) and malignant lesions (0.38 ± 0.23). Logistic regression analysis with RT and LPR combined showed a high diagnostic accuracy of quantitative CEUS parameters with areas under the curve of 0.923 (benign vs. malignant) and 0.929 (hemangioma vs. malignant. Conclusions: Quantified CEUS parameters are helpful to differentiate malignant from benign liver lesions, in particular in case of atypical hemangiomas.

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