scholarly journals Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for the Characterization of Malignant versus Benign Focal Liver Lesions in a Prospective Multicenter Experience – The SRUMB Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 191-196
Author(s):  
Ioan Sporea ◽  
Daniela Larisa Săndulescu ◽  
Roxana Şirli ◽  
Alina Popescu ◽  
Mirela Danilă ◽  
...  

Aim: This study evaluated the accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the differential diagnosis of benign vs. malignant focal liver lesions (FLL) in a real-life, multicenter experience. Methods: This prospective study, including 14 Romanian centers, was performed over a 6 year period (February 2011- April 2017) and included 2062 FLLs assessed by CEUS. Inclusion criteria were: newly diagnosed FLL on B-mode ultrasound, less than three lesions/patient, all FLLs evaluated by CEUS and by a second-line imaging technique (contrast enhanced CT or contrast enhanced MRI) or histology, considered as reference. The trial was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier NCT01329458). Results: From the 2062 FLLs included in the study, 57.2% (1179) were malignant and 42.8% (883) were benign. CEUS had 83.9% sensitivity (Se), 97.8% specificity (Sp), 98.1% positive predictive value (PPV), 82.2% negative predictive value (NPV) and a diagnostic accuracy (Ac) of 89.9% for the positive diagnosis of malignant lesions. For the benign lesions, CEUS had 97.8% Se, 83.9% Sp, 82.2% PPV, 98.1% NPV 89.9% Ac. The diagnostic performance of CEUS for hepatocellular carcinoma was 76.6% Se, 98.4% Sp, and 91.2% Ac; for hemangioma: 89.2% Se, 99% Sp, and 96.9% Ac and for metastases: 90.9% Se, 98.4% Sp, and 96.9% Ac. Conclusions: CEUS proved a high accuracy in differentiating the malignant vs. benign character of a FLL. It can be confidently used as a first line imaging method in daily practice.

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioan Sporea ◽  
Alina Martie ◽  
Simona Bota ◽  
Roxana Sirli ◽  
Alina Popescu ◽  
...  

Aim: To present a large monocentric experience in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs) using Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS).Method: A retrospective study was performed in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Timisoara, including 1100 patients with 1329 FLLs evaluated between September 2009 and January 2013. A CEUS examination was considered conclusive if the FLL respected the typical enhancement pattern as described in the EFSUMB Guidelines.Results: From the 1329 FLLs, CEUS was conclusive for a specific pathology in 1102 cases (82.9%). For the differentiation of benign/malignant lesions, CEUS reached a conclusive diagnosis in 1196 (90%) cases. The percentage of conclusive CEUS examinations was significantly higher in patients without chronic liver disease as compared with those with chronic hepatopathies: 87.3% vs. 74.4% (p<0.0001).Conclusion: CEUS patterns of enhancement fell into clear cut specific diagnostic patterns in 83% of the FLLs discovered by US, and into clear cut benign versus malignant patterns in 90% of the cases. For this reason, we can strongly recommend CEUS as a first line imaging method to characterize FLLs found at US, at least in centers with a good experience in CEUS.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Ghiuchici ◽  
Mirela Dănilă ◽  
Alina Popescu ◽  
Roxana Șirli ◽  
Tudor Moga ◽  
...  

Aims: to evaluate the accuracy of LR-5 category from the latest Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound algorithm (ACR CEUS LI-RADSv 2017) for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in a real-life cohort of high-risk patients. Material and methods: We retrospectively re-analysed the CEUS studies of 464 focal liver lesions (FLL) in 382 patients at high-risk for HCC (liver cirrhosis of any aetiology, chronic B or C hepatitis with severe fibrosis) using the ACR CEUS LI-RADSv 2017 algorithm. CEUS LI-RADS categories used for the diagnosis of HCC were: CEUS LR-5 (definitely HCC) and CEUS LR-TIV (HCC with macrovascular invasion). Contrast-enhanced CT, contrast-enhanced MRI, or histology were used as diagnostic reference methods to evaluate the CEUS LI-RADS classification of the 464 lesions. Results: According to the reference method, the 464 lesions were classified as follows: 359 HCCs, 68 non-HCC-non-malignant lesions and 37 non-HCC malignant lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of LR-5 category for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was 76.9%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 71.9%, 94.3 %, 97.7% and 49.5%, respectively. Conclusions: LR-5 category from ACR CEUS LI-RADSv 2017 algorithm, has good sensitivity, excellent specificity, and PPV for the diagnosis of HCC. The HCC rate increases from LR-3 to LR-5.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (01) ◽  
pp. 12-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Dietrich

AbstractThe diagnostic handling of benign focal liver lesions (FLLs) is a challenge and it is difficult to avoid over- and underdiagnosis. Conventional B-mode ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) are the first-line imaging methods to detect and characterize FLLs. This CME article discusses the diagnostic workup of benign liver tumors.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1244
Author(s):  
Sonja Schwarz ◽  
Dirk-André Clevert ◽  
Michael Ingrisch ◽  
Thomas Geyer ◽  
Vincent Schwarze ◽  
...  

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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