title: Real-time contrast-enhanced specific ultrasound in staging and follow-up of splenic lymphomas.
abstract: From January 2003 to April 2005 we studied 25 lymphoma patients (10 with HD, 4 with low-grade NHL, 6 with high-grade NHL and 5 with chronic lymphatic leukaemia; 14 men, 11 women, age range 28-79 years). After a baseline US study we rapidly injected 4.8 mL of the second-generation microbubble contrast agent SonoVue (Bracco, Italy). Contrast enhanced studies were carried out with the contrast-specific software named Contrast Tuned Imaging (Esaote, Italy) using a continuous, harmonic acquisition and a low acoustic pressure. The CS-US findings were correlated with results of standard tools, including CT, MRI, US follow up. CS-US revealed correctly 47 out of the 52 lesions identified by CT scan, in the absence of false positive findings (sensitivity = 90%; Specificity = 100%, in comparison to CT scan). Complete concordance in evaluating the lesion extension of the CS-US in respect to CT was 88%, while underestimate occurred in 9% and overestimate in 3% of cases. On the contrary, basic sonography defined correctly the dimensional alteration in 52% of the cases, underestimated in 35% and overestimated in 13%, thus showing significantly lower accuracy (chi-square = 30.0, p < 0.001). In our experience, CS-US was superior to conventional sonography even from a qualitative point of view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, S. Maria delle Grazie Hospital Pozzuoli, Italy. salvatore.tafuto@libero.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tafuto
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Gianvincenzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sandomenico
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lobianco
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortoriello
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Formato
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comella
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siani
authors.forename: Marilisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Meo
authors.forename: Rosario Vincenzo
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Iaffaioli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quattrin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride