The use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the characterisation of focal liver lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the potential application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the characterisation of focal liver lesions encountered in radiological practice at a district general hospital.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 68 sequential patients undergoing contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of liver. All patients were referred for CEUS following identification of 1 or more focal liver lesions on conventional ultrasound or CT imaging. After baseline US examination (Acuson), a bolus of 1.0-2.4 ml of SonoVue (Bracco, UK) was administered intravenously. CEUS images were obtained during arterial, portal venous and delayed phases. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 6 months. The CEUS diagnosis was compared to that indicated by other imaging modalities, histopathology, and clinical follow up.


RESULTS
CEUS correctly identified malignant liver lesions in 19 patients, with the final diagnosis confirmed by histopathology in 5 cases and clinico-radiological follow up in 14 cases. 47 patients were correctly identified with benign liver lesions on CEUS imaging, with all these cases confirmed on clinico-radiological follow up. In the detection of malignancy, the sensitivity was 95.0% and the specificity was 97.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience to date, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging is highly accurate in characterising malignant and benign focal liver lesions. It therefore has significant potential for utilisation in most general radiology departments.
Soye
J A
JA
Antrim Area Hospital, 45 Bush Road, Northern Ireland. jonathan@soye.fslife.co.uk
Mullan
C P
CP
Porter
S
S
Beattie
H
H
Barltrop
A H
AH
Nelson
W M
WM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014463:Ultrasonography
D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride