Diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced sonography and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging in solid liver lesions.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced sonography and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant liver lesions.


METHODS
A total of 156 patients with liver lesions were included in the study. The images from conventional sonography and contrast-enhanced sonography and the shear wave velocity values of the liver lesions were obtained. The diagnostic performance of conventional sonography, contrast-enhanced sonography, and ARFI was assessed by using pathologic examination (needle biopsy or surgery) or clinical imaging inspection as the reference standard.


RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of conventional sonography for malignant liver lesions were 57.1% and 43.1%, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of ARFI were 81.3% and 74.1%. When using contrast-enhanced sonography for the diagnosis of malignant liver lesions, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.9% and 89.7%. The sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced sonography were significantly higher than those of ARFI and conventional sonography (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The differential diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced sonography is most predictive of malignant liver lesions. Contrast-enhanced sonography and ARFI have complementary effects in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant liver lesions.
Department of Ultrasound, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410013 Changsha, Hunan, China. zhouping1000@hotmail.com.
Ping
P
Zhang
Ping
P
Zhou
Shuang-Ming
SM
Tian
Ying
Y
Qian
Jia-Le
JL
Li
Rui-Zhen
RZ
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
acoustic radiation force impulse imaging; contrast-enhanced sonography; elastography; gastrointestinal ultrasound; liver neoplasms; sonography