Assessment of arterial-phase hyperenhancement and late-phase washout of hepatocellular carcinoma-a meta-analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with SonoVue® and Sonazoid®.

OBJECTIVES: The recognition of arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and washout during the late phase is key for correct diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). This meta-analysis was conducted to compare SonoVue®-enhanced and Sonazoid®-enhanced ultrasound in the assessment of HCC enhancement and diagnosis. METHODS: Studies were included in the analysis if they reported data for HCC enhancement in the arterial phase and late phase for SonoVue® or in the arterial phase and Kupffer phase (KP) for Sonazoid®. Forty-two studies (7502 patients) with use of SonoVue® and 30 studies (2391 patients) with use of Sonazoid® were identified. In a pooled analysis, the comparison between SonoVue® and Sonazoid® CEUS was performed using chi-square test. An inverse variance weighted random-effect model was used to estimate proportion, sensitivity, and specificity along with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: In the meta-analysis, the proportion of HCC showing APHE with SonoVue®, 93% (95% CI 91-95%), was significantly higher than the proportion of HCC showing APHE with Sonazoid®, 77% (71-83%) (p < 0.0001); similarly, the proportion of HCC showing washout at late phase/KP was significantly higher with SonoVue®, 86% (83-89%), than with Sonazoid®, 76% (70-82%) (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of APHE plus late-phase/KP washout detection in HCC were also higher with SonoVue® than with Sonazoid® (sensitivity 80% vs 52%; specificity 80% vs 73% in studies within unselected patient populations). CONCLUSION: APHE and late washout in HCC are more frequently observed with SonoVue® than with Sonazoid®. This may affect the diagnostic performance of CEUS in the diagnosis of HCCs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Meta-analysis data show the presence of key enhancement features for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is different between ultrasound contrast agents, and arterial hyperenhancement and late washout are more frequently observed at contrast-enhanced ultrasound with SonoVue® than with Sonazoid®. KEY POINTS: • Dynamic enhancement features are key for imaging-based diagnosis of HCC. • Arterial hyperenhancement and late washout are more often observed in HCCs using SonoVue®-enhanced US than with Sonazoid®. • The existing evidence for contrast-enhanced US may need to be considered being specific to the individual contrast agent.

Path Tracing vs. Volume Rendering Technique in Post-Surgical Assessment of Bone Flap in Oncologic Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery: A Preliminary Study.

This study aims to compare a relatively novel three-dimensional rendering called Path Tracing (PT) to the Volume Rendering technique (VR) in the post-surgical assessment of head and neck oncologic surgery followed by bone flap reconstruction. This retrospective study included 39 oncologic patients who underwent head and neck surgery with free bone flap reconstructions. All exams were acquired using a 64 Multi-Detector CT (MDCT). PT and VR images were created on a dedicated workstation. Five readers, with different expertise in bone flap reconstructive surgery, independently reviewed the images (two radiologists, one head and neck surgeon and two otorhinolaryngologists, respectively). Every observer evaluated the images according to a 5-point Likert scale. The parameters assessed were image quality, anatomical accuracy, bone flap evaluation, and metal artefact. Mean and median values for all the parameters across the observer were calculated. The scores of both reconstruction methods were compared using a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. Inter-reader agreement was calculated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. PT was considered significantly superior to VR 3D reconstructions by all readers (p < 0.05). Inter-reader agreement was moderate to strong across four out of five readers. The agreement was stronger with PT images compared to VR images. In conclusion, PT reconstructions are significantly better than VR ones. Although they did not modify patient outcomes, they may improve the post-surgical evaluation of bone-free flap reconstructions following major head and neck surgery.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of short biparametric magnetic resonance imaging protocol in men at risk of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the cost-effectiveness of a short biparametric MRI (BP-MRI) with that of contrast-enhanced multiparametric MRI (MP-MRI) for the detection of prostate cancer in men with elevated prostatespecific antigen (PSA) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared two diagnostic procedures for detection of prostate cancer (Pca), BP-MRI and MP-MRI, in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALY), incremental costeffectiveness ratio (ICER) and net monetary benefit (NMB) for a hypothetical cohort of 10,000 patients. We compared two scenarios in which different protocols would be used for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer in relation to PSA values. Scenario 1. BP-MRI/MP-MRI yearly if > 3.0 ng/ml, every 2 years otherwise; Scenario 2. BP-MRI/MP-MRI yearly with age-dependent threshold 3.5 ng/ml (50-59 years), 4.5 ng/ml (60-69 years), 6.5 ng/ml (70-79 years). RESULTS: BP-MRI was more effective than the comparator in terms of cost (160.10 € vs 249.99€) QALYs (a mean of 9.12 vs 8.46), ICER (a mean of 232.45) and NMB (a mean of 273.439 vs 251.863). BP-MRI was dominant, being more effective and less expensive, with a lower social cost. Scenario 2 was more cost-effective compared to scenario 1. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed the hypothesis that a short bi-parametric MRI protocol represents a cost-efficient procedure, optimizing resources in a policy perspective.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of including contrast-enhanced ultrasound in management of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.

PURPOSE: Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) management consists of non-invasive imaging studies (CT, MRI), with a high resource burden. We aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of including contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the management of PCN without risk features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using a decision-tree model in a hypothetical cohort of patients, we compared management strategy including CEUS with the latest Fukuoka consensus, European and Italian guidelines. Our strategy for BD-IPMN/MCN < 1 cm includes 1 CEUS annually. For those between 1 and 2 cm, it includes CEUS 4 times/year during the first year, then 3 times/year for 4 years and then annually. For those between 2 and 3 cm, it comprises MRI twice/year during the first one, then alternating 2 CEUS and 1 MRI yearly. RESULTS: CEUS surveillance is the dominant strategy in all scenarios. CEUS surveillance average cost is 1,984.72 €, mean QALY 11.79 and mean ICER 181.99 €. If willingness to pay is 30,000 €, 45% of patients undergone CEUS surveillance of BDIPMN/MCN < 1 cm would be within budget. CONCLUSION: Guidelines strategies are very effective, but costs are relatively high from a policy perspective. CEUS surveillance may be a cost-effective strategy yielding a nearly high QALYs, an acceptable ICER, and a lower cost.

Evaluation of nutritional status in non-small-cell lung cancer: screening, assessment and correlation with treatment outcome.

BackgroundNutritional derangements are common hallmarks of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, their early detection is overlooked in clinical routine. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional status and its correlation with outcome in NSCLC patients.MethodsData regarding NSCLC patients undergoing nutritional evaluation were prospectively collected (May 2016-October 2018). Nutritional risk was assessed by Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002). Bilateral psoas major muscles were measured at L3 vertebrae level with routine staging-computed tomography and changes were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Clinico-pathological and nutritional data were correlated to progression-free/overall survival (PFS/OS) and response rate (ORR) using a Cox and logistic regression model. Kaplan-Meier curves were compared with log-rank test.ResultsThirty-eight patients were included. The majority (65.8%) of them were at nutritional risk (NRS-2002 ≥3). At multivariate analysis for patients with advanced disease, age (HR 2.44, p=0.05), performance status (HR 2.48, p=0.043) and NRS-2002 (HR 1.74, p=0.001) were significant independent predictors for PFS and weight loss (HR 1.07, p=0.008) for OS. Patients with baseline NRS-2002 <3 had significantly longer 1-year PFS (85.7% vs 19.4%, p=0.02) and higher ORR (66.7% vs 21.4%) than those with NRS-2002 ≥3. An explorative evaluation demonstrated that NRS-2002 score significantly decreased after nutritional intervention (p=0.001) for 3 months.ConclusionBaseline nutritional risk represents a prognostic factor in NSCLC. Nutritional counselling should be applied as a fundamental tool to improve nutritional risk in a short period, ameliorating patients' outcome.

Activity-Based Cost Analysis of Including Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the Diagnostic Pathway of Focal Pancreatic Lesions Detected by Abdominal Ultrasound.

PURPOSE: To perform an activity-based cost analysis of the inclusion of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnostic pathway of newly detected focal pancreatic lesions revealed by abdominal ultrasound (US) in comparison to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 14-year period, 977 patients with newly detected focal pancreatic lesions on US and subsequently studied with CEUS and/or CT and MRI were included. The cost of equipment, materials and human resources for every imaging method was calculated. We analyzed the costs in different scenarios considering whether or not CT or MRI was required in the diagnostic pathway. The savings (R) were calculated by subtracting the differential cost of CEUS from the eliminated third-level exam (CCEUS: CEUS cost; CCT: CT cost; CMRI: MRI cost) compared to conventional ultrasound (CCEUS-CUS): R = CCT-(CCEUS-CUS) or R = CMRI-(CCEUS-CUS). RESULTS: Total costs were: US 28.39 €; CEUS 70.50 €; CT 106.23 €; MRI 219.61 €. In 388/563 patients CEUS characterized the pancreatic lesion as solid, with only CT being performed as a second-level investigation: the savings were 68 870.36 €. In 266/414 patients CEUS diagnosed lesions as cystic, with only MRI being performed as a second-level examination: the savings were 16 825.07 €. Considering the whole diagnostic pathway of the patients, the cost savings were 76 809.35 € for solid lesions and 26 242.49 € for cystic lesions, with overall savings of 103 051.84 €. CONCLUSION: CEUS represents a cost-effective imaging method for the differentiation of focal pancreatic lesions and could guide the selection of the best imaging modality for preoperative assessment, thereby optimizing resources and securing the diagnostic pathway.

CEUS versus CT Angiography in the follow-up of abdominal aortic endoprostheses: diagnostic accuracy and activity-based cost analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy and to perform an activity-based cost analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) compared to computed tomography (CT) during annual surveillance after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with endovascular procedure (EVAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 137 patients in post-EVAR follow-up over a 6-year period (average post-operatory follow-up without aneurysm sac volumetric reduction). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values and accuracy were considered for CEUS using CT angiography (CTA) as reference standard. An activity-based cost analysis was performed to evaluate potential savings due to the introduction of CEUS as an alternative to CT, after the first year of postoperative negative controls. RESULTS: CEUS reported accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values of 97.4, 96, 100, 100 and 93.1% in the detection and characterization of endoleaks. CEUS cost was € 84.7, and CTA cost was € 157.77, with a differential cost of € 73.07; using CEUS as an alternative to CT allowed a potential saving of 50.052,95 € during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is an accurate and cheap imaging method in post-EVAR follow-up patients, and it could be considered as a valid alternative to CTA, after the first year of negative controls, reducing the number of unnecessary CT examinations.

Prognostication and response assessment in liver and pancreatic tumors: The new imaging.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and perfusion computed tomography (CT) are technical improvements of morphologic imaging that can evaluate functional properties of hepato-bilio-pancreatic tumors during conventional MRI or CT examinations. Nevertheless, the term "functional imaging" is commonly used to describe molecular imaging techniques, as positron emission tomography (PET) CT/MRI, which still represent the most widely used methods for the evaluation of functional properties of solid neoplasms; unlike PET or single photon emission computed tomography, functional imaging techniques applied to conventional MRI/CT examinations do not require the administration of radiolabeled drugs or specific equipments. Moreover, DWI and DCE-MRI can be performed during the same session, thus providing a comprehensive "one-step" morphological and functional evaluation of hepato-bilio-pancreatic tumors. Literature data reveal that functional imaging techniques could be proposed for the evaluation of these tumors before treatment, given that they may improve staging and predict prognosis or clinical outcome. Microscopic changes within neoplastic tissues induced by treatments can be detected and quantified with functional imaging, therefore these techniques could be used also for post-treatment assessment, even at an early stage. The aim of this editorial is to describe possible applications of new functional imaging techniques apart from molecular imaging to hepatic and pancreatic tumors through a review of up-to-date literature data, with a particular emphasis on pathological correlations, prognostic stratification and post-treatment monitoring.