High correlation between microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound, magnetic resonance and histopathology in the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of microbubble contrast ultrasound in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and to compare its results with those of magnetic resonance and histopathology.


METHODS
A total of 29 patients suffering from chronic liver diseases and awaiting liver transplants at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein were subject to magnetic resonance, microbubble contrast ultrasound, and excision liver biopsies.


RESULTS
Excellent agreement between magnetic resonance and microbubble contrast ultrasound was observed in this study. There was moderate agreement between both imaging methods and histopathology results.


CONCLUSIONS
Microbubble contrast ultrasound was as accurate as magnetic resonance to evaluate hepatocellular carcinoma. These results were confirmed by comparing both methods to histopathological diagnosis.
Marcos Roberto Gomes de
MR
Queiroz
Miguel José
MJ
Francisco Neto
Rodrigo Gobbo
RG
Garcia
Antonio
A
Rahal Junior
Paolo
P
Salvalaggio
Marcelo Buarque de Gusmão
MB
Funari
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D045423:Microbubbles; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data