Application of parametric image processing of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging in diagnosis of ovarian masses / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate application value of parametric image processing in contrastenhanced ultrasound imaging in diagnosis of ovarian masses. MethodsFifty cases with ovarian masses underwent routine ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging using a new dedicated parametric image processing software SonoLiver to analyze patterns of vascular formation and blood stream perfusion in the ovarian mass tissues on a digital video recorder in real time, compare their morphological characteristics of time-intensity curve (TIC) and dynamic vascular patterns (DVP) curve, and analyze quantitatively all indicators generated by SonoLiver.ResultsIn ultrasound imaging of the 50 cases, there were 24 cases (86％) displaying mainly blue lowly-enhanced imaging in those with benign masses and 15 cases (68％)displaying mainly red highly-enhanced imaging in those with malignant masses, with statistical significance (P ＜0. 01 ). There was significantly different characteristics of TIC and DVP between patients with benign and malignant masses. In 23 cases with benign masses, their DVP were significantly higher above the baseline than in those with malignant ones ( P = 0. 000), and in 15 cases with malignant lesions, their DVP were much shorter below the baseline than in those with benign ones, with statistical significance (P ＜0.05). The intensity of contrast medium, the time to reach its peak intensity and average transit time were all significantly higher in those with malignant masses than in those with benign ones (all P ＜ 0. 05 ). But, no statistical difference in the time of initial increasing between the two groups was found (P ＞ 0. 05). ConclusionsThere is significant difference in TIC and DVP of ultrasound imaging between benign and malignant masses, which if combined with contrast enhanced ultrasound parametric image processing can provide a more visualized quantitative information of benign and malignant ovarian masses with SonoLiver software.