Modified contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with the new high-resolution examination technique of high frame rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (HiFR-CEUS) for characterization of liver lesions: First results.
Clin Hemorheol Microcirc
; 83(1): 31-46, 2023.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35466932
ABSTRACT
AIM:
To examine to what extent the high frame rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (HiFR) diagnostic enables the conclusive diagnosis of liver changes with suspected malignancy. MATERIAL/METHODS:
Ultrasound examinations were performed by an experienced examiner using a multifrequency probe (SC6-1) on a high-end ultrasound system (Resona 7, Mindray) to clarify liver changes that were unclear on the B-scan. A bolus of 1-2.4âml of the Sulphur hexafluoride ultrasound microbubbles contrast agent SonoVue™ (Bracco SpA, Italy) was administered with DICOM storage of CEUS examinations from the early arterial phase (5-15âs) to the late phase (5-6 min). Based on the image files stored in the PACS, an independent reading was performed regarding image quality and finding-related diagnostic significance (0 not informative/non-diagnostic to 5 excellent image quality/confident diagnosis possible). References were clinical follow-up, if possible, comparison to promptly performed computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, in some cases also to histopathology.RESULTS:
We examined 100 patients (42 women, 58 men, from 18 years to 90 years, mean 63±13 years) with different entities of focal and diffuse liver parenchymal changes, which could be detected in all cases with sufficient image quality with CEUS and with high image quality with HiFR-CEUS. Proportionally septate cysts were found in nâ=â19 cases, scars after hemihepatectomy with local reduced fat in nâ=â5 cases, scars after microwave ablation in nâ=â19 cases, hemangiomas in nâ=â9 cases, focal nodular hyperplasia in nâ=â8 cases, colorectal metastases in nâ=â15 cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in nâ=â11 cases, Osler disease in nâ=â8 cases. The size of lesions ranged from 5âmm to 200âmm with a mean value of 33.1±27.8âmm. Conclusive diagnoses could be made by the experienced investigator in 97/100 cases with CEUS, confirmed by reference imaging, in parts by histopathology or follow-up. The image quality for HiFR CEUS was rated with a score of 3 to 5; 62 cases were assessed with an average of good (4 points), 27 cases with very good (5 points), and in 11 cases (3 points) still satisfactory despite aggravated acoustic conditions. The specificity of HIFR-CEUS was 97%, the sensitivity 97%, the positive predictive value 94%, the negative predictive value 99% and the accuracy 97%.CONCLUSION:
HIFR-CEUS has demonstrated has demonstrated an improved image quality resulting in a high diagnostic accuracy. In the hands of an experienced investigator, HiFR-CEUS allows the assessment of focal and diffuse unclear liver parenchymal changes on B-scan and dynamic assessment of microcirculation in solid and vascular changes.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
/
Liver Neoplasms
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Hemorheol Microcirc
Journal subject:
ANGIOLOGIA
/
HEMATOLOGIA
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany