[Characterization of focal liver lesions using an innovative contrast-enhanced ultrasound technique].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical performance of an innovative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) technique in characterization of focal liver lesions (FLL).


METHODS
CEUS was performed in 505 patients with FLLs. A sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and a continuous real-time imaging technique of contrast pulse sequencing were used. The observation items included initial nodule enhancement time, enhancement level and pattern, and dynamic evolution of enhancement along with the CEUS phases.


RESULTS
There were similar findings for both malignant and benign FLLs in initial enhancement time and enhancement level on CEUS. The dynamic evolution of enhancement along with enhancement phase was the most significant parameter for characterization of FLLs. Most malignant lesions showed enhancement at arterial phase and hypo-enhancing at late phase, whereas the benign lesions presented enhancement at arterial phase and persistent hyper- or iso-enhancing until late phase. Using these characteristics as a diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predicative value, negative predicative value and accuracy of CEUS in identifying malignant FLLs were 95.7% (313/327), 86.0% (153/178), 92.6% (313/338), 91.6% (153/167) and 92.3% (466/505), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Characterization of FLLs by using the innovative CEUS technique is recommendable due to its safety, facility and high accuracy.
Xu
Hui-xiong
HX
Department of Medical Ultrasonics, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Liu
Guang-jian
GJ
Lü
Ming-de
MD
Xie
Xiao-yan
XY
Xu
Zuo-feng
ZF
Zheng
Yan-ling
YL
Liang
Jin-yu
JY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride