The value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the characterization of vascular pattern of solid pancreatic lesions.
The AIM of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of CEUS in the characterization of pancreatic solid lesions, considering cross sectional imaging techniques (CE-CT/MRI) as the "gold standard" methods.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective, monocentric study that included 91 solid pancreatic lesions which were evaluated by CEUS and by a second-line contrast imaging technique (CT or MRI), considered as the reference method.


RESULTS
The rate of a conclusive diagnosis based on a typical enhancement pattern was 94% (78/83 cases). In 72 cases out of 83 (86.7%) there was a perfect concordance between CEUS and the "gold-standard" imaging method (CE-CT/MRI). In our study, 88% (73/83) of the pancreatic lesions were categorized as malignant due to their typical wash-out aspect in the late phase. The overall accuracy of CEUS for the differential diagnosis of solid pancreatic tumors was approximately 81%. The accuracy of CEUS for the diagnosis of hypoenhancing pancreatic tumors was approximately 89.1%; while for the diagnosis of hyperenhancing pancreatic tumors it was approximately 72.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
CEUS allows the differentiation between hypo- vs. hyperenhancing pancreatic solid lesions, with a considerable diagnostic accuracy, a fundamental step in the precise diagnosis of pancreatic tumors.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Melania
M
Ardelean
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. E-mail:roxanasirli@gmail.com.
Roxana
R
Sirli
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Ioan
I
Sporea
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Simona
S
Bota
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Mirela
M
Danila
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Alina
A
Popescu
Department of Informatics and Biostatistics, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy,Timisoara, Romania.
Bogdan
B
Timar
Municipal County Hospital, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Roxana
R
Buzas
Municipal County Hospital, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Octavian
O
Mazilu
Municipal County Hospital, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Ovidiu
O
Ardelean
Municipal County Hospital, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Daniel
D
Lighezan
D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010743:Phospholipids; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride