scholarly journals Continuous Dynamic Registration of Microvascularization of Liver Tumors with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Philipp Beyer ◽  
Benedikt Pregler ◽  
Isabel Wiesinger ◽  
Christian Stroszczynski ◽  
Philipp Wiggermann ◽  
...  

Aim.To evaluate the diagnostic value of quantification of liver tumor microvascularization using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) measured continuously from the arterial phase to the late phase (3 minutes).Material and Methods.We present a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with malignant (n=13) or benign (n=7) liver tumors. The tumors had histopathologically been proven or clearly identified using contrast-enhanced reference imaging with either 1.5 T MRI (liver specific contrast medium) or triphase CT and follow-up. CEUS was performed using a multifrequency transducer (1–5 MHz) and a bolus injection of 2.4 mL sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles. A retrospective perfusion analysis was performed to determine TTP (time-to-peak), RBV (regional blood volume), RBF (regional blood flow), and Peak.Results.Statistics revealed a significant difference (P<0.05) between benign and malignant tumors in the RBV, RBF, and Peak but not in TTP (P=0.07). Receiver operating curves (ROC) were generated for RBV, RBF, Peak, and TTP with estimated ROC areas of 0.97, 0.96, 0.98, and 0.76, respectively.Conclusion.RBV, RBF, and Peak continuously measured over a determined time period of 3 minutes could be of valuable support in differentiating malignant from benign liver tumors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Qiping Liu ◽  
Huiling Gong ◽  
Hui Zhu ◽  
Chunyan Yuan ◽  
Bin Hu

Objective. To study the clinical diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in bladder occupied lesions. Methods. 38 cases of conventional-ultrasound-found bladder occupied lesions did color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and CEUS checks. By comparing the difference between two types of blood flow imaging technologies in displaying the flow of bladder occupied lesions and observing the perfusion modes of contrast agents to enter lesions, the perfusion characteristics of CEUS were analyzed. Finally, they were contrasted with the surgical pathology results. Results. Of all the 38 cases, there were 51 bladder occupied lesions, including 43 bladder malignant tumors, 2 bladder inverted papillomas, and 6 glandular cystitis lesions. The blood flow display rate of bladder occupied lesions was 100% using CEUS. Apparently, it was higher than that of CDFI (62.7%), and the result of these showed a statistically significant difference ( P < 0.05 ). Using CEUS, 46 malignant lesions and 5 glandular cystitis lesions were indicated, and the diagnostic accuracy rate was 86.3%. Conclusion. CEUS can improve the blood flow display rate of bladder occupied lesions, and it can also observe the real-time blood flow of these lesions. It can help judge their nature and has a higher clinical value in differentiating the benign from the malignant.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (04) ◽  
pp. 404-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Schellhaas ◽  
Deike Strobel

AbstractContrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has a high diagnostic accuracy in the assessment of focal liver lesions. Clinical context (presence of liver cirrhosis, history of other malignancy versus incidental finding) is crucial for the correct interpretation of CEUS findings. CEUS has to be preceded by structured anamnesis and clinical examination as well as accurate B-mode sonography. Metastases are the most common malignant liver lesions in a non-cirrhotic liver. According to their contrast enhancement in the arterial phase, metastases are categorized as hyper- and hypo-vascular metastases. A common feature of all metastatic lesions is washout of the contrast agent in the portal venous or late phase. In the context of liver cirrhosis, > 95 % of focal liver lesions are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). HCCs typically show arterial phase hyperenhancement, followed by mild and gradual contrast washout occurring very late in the late phase. For intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (ICC), the pattern of contrast enhancement in the arterial phase can vary. However, all ICCs typically show early and pronounced washout. Other liver malignancies like lymphoma, angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and others are very rare. Except for the contrast washout seen in all liver malignancies, they do not display pathognomonic enhancement patterns upon CEUS. Thus, biopsy is indispensable for definite diagnosis of the tumor entity. Furthermore, CEUS is used for the detection of metastases and therapeutic monitoring after local ablative procedures. The examination procedure differs slightly depending on the specific indication (characterization, detection).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janu Eva ◽  
Krikavova Lucie ◽  
Little Jirina ◽  
Dvorak Karel ◽  
Brancikova Dagmar ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: To determine the benefit of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of breast lesions. Materials and Methods: A standardized contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed in 230 breast lesions classified as BI-RADS category 3 to 5. All lesions were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. MVI (MicroVascular Imaging) technique was used to derive qualitative analysis parameters; blood perfusion of the lesions was assessed (perfusion homogeneity, type of vascularization, enhancement degree). Quantitative analysis was conducted to estimate perfusion changes in the lesions within drawn regions of interest (ROI); parameters TTP (time to peak), PI (peak intensity), WIS (wash in slope), AUC (area under curve) were obtained from time intensity (TI) curves. Acquired data were statistically analyzed to assess the ability of each parameter to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions. The combination of parameters was also evaluated for the possibility of increasing the overall diagnostic accuracy. Biological nature of the lesions was verified by a pathologist. Benign lesions without histopathological verification (BI-RADS 3) were followed up for at least 24 months. Results: Out of 230 lesions, 146 (64%) were benign, 67 (29%) were malignant, 17 (7%) lesions were eliminated. Malignant tumors showed statistically significantly lower TTP parameters (sensitivity 77.6%, specificity 52.7%) and higher WIS values (sensitivity 74.6%, specificity 66.4%) than benign tumors. Enhancement degree also proved to be statistically well discriminating as 55.2% of malignant lesions had a rich vascularity (sensitivity 89.6% and specificity 48.6%). The combination of quantitative analysis parameters (TTP, WIS) with enhancement degree did not result in higher accuracy in distinguishing between malignant and benign breast lesions. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that contrast-enhanced breast ultrasound has the potential to distinguish between malignant and benign lesions. In particular, this method could help to differentiate lesions BI-RADS category 3 and 4 and thus reduce the number of core-cut biopsies performed in benign lesions. Qualitative analysis, despite its subjective element, appeared to be more beneficial. A combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis did not increase the predictive capability of CEUS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yixi Wang ◽  
Yanjie Wang ◽  
Zhihui Fan ◽  
Jun Shan ◽  
Kun Yan

Objective. To compare the consistency of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) classification results with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS classification in pancreatic cystic lesions. Methods. 84 cases of pancreatic cystic lesions were enrolled in this study. According to the CEUS classification methods of previous study in our center, all the lesions were classified into four types: type I, unilocular cysts; type II, microcystic lesions; type III, macrocystic lesions; and type IV, cystic lesions with enhanced solid components. The consistency of CEUS and MRI typing results was analysed. Among the 84 cases, 45 cases had pathological results. The CEUS results were compared with the pathological results, and the diagnostic value of CEUS classification in diagnosing pancreatic cystic lesions was explored. Results. Among the 84 cases, CEUS diagnosed 8 cases of type I, 24 of type II, 8 of type III, and 45 of type IV. MRI diagnosed 10 cases of type I, 25 of type II, 7 of type III, and 43 of type IV. The classification typing results of CEUS were highly consistent with that of enhanced MRI (kappa value: 0.852). Among the 45 cases with pathological results, the diagnostic accuracy of each type was 91.1%, 95.6%, 93.3%, and 88.9%. The accuracy of CEUS and MRI in diagnosing pancreatic cystic lesions was 75.56% (34/45) and 80% (36/45), respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of CEUS had no significant difference from that of MRI (P=0.687). Conclusion. The classification results by CEUS and MRI are in excellent agreement. The classification of pancreatic cystic lesions by CEUS is significantly helpful for clinical diagnosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiao ◽  
Chen ◽  
Huang

Aim: This prospective study assessed the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using long Kupffer phase enhancement for adults with liver tumor size of less than 3 cm. Performance comparisons were also conducted with dynamic computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Background: CEUS has emerged as a reliable image modality, since the development of second-generation contrast medium with long Kupffer phase enhancement. Nonetheless, dynamic CT and MRI are currently the standard imaging tools for the diagnosis of liver cancers, and the diagnostic value of CEUS for liver cancer has yet to be universally accepted. Methods: Sixty-six adult patients suspected of having liver tumors smaller than 3 cm underwent CEUS, dynamic CT, and MRI examinations independently. Subsequent tumor biopsies were used to verify the diagnostic performance of the three imaging modalities. Results: The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR, 95% CI) for hepatocellular carcinoma were as follows: CEUS (52.8, 11.4–243), CT (29.29, 7.36–116), and MRI (19.43, 5.44–69.4); for metastasis: CEUS (200, 19.1–2095), CT (24, 5.05–114), and MRI (32, 6.56–156); and all liver malignancy: CEUS (260, 12.7–5310), CT (2.57, 0.55–12.1), and MRI (5.22, 1.25–21.8). CEUS achieved the best differentiation performance. Conclusions: CEUS outperformed dynamic CT and MRI in terms of diagnostic performance when dealing with small liver tumors (<3 cm).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janu Eva ◽  
Krikavova Lucie ◽  
Little Jirina ◽  
Dvorak Karel ◽  
Brancikova Dagmar ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose: To determine the benefit of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the assessment of breast lesions.Materials and Methods: A standardized contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed in 230 breast lesions classified as BI-RADS category 3 to 5. All lesions were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. MVI (MicroVascular Imaging) technique was used to derive qualitative analysis parameters; blood perfusion of the lesions was assessed (perfusion homogeneity, type of vascularization, enhancement degree). Quantitative analysis was conducted to estimate perfusion changes in the lesions within drawn regions of interest (ROI); parameters TTP (time to peak), PI (peak intensity), WIS (wash in slope), AUC (area under curve) were obtained from time intensity (TI) curves. Acquired data were statistically analyzed to assess the ability of each parameter to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions. The combination of parameters was also evaluated for the possibility of increasing the overall diagnostic accuracy. Biological nature of the lesions was verified by a pathologist. Benign lesions without histopathological verification (BI-RADS 3) were followed up for at least 24 months.Results: Out of 230 lesions, 146 (64%) were benign, 67 (29%) were malignant, 17 (7%) lesions were eliminated. Malignant tumors showed statistically significantly lower TTP parameters (sensitivity 77.6%, specificity 52.7%) and higher WIS values (sensitivity 74.6%, specificity 66.4%) than benign tumors. Enhancement degree also proved to be statistically well discriminating as 55.2% of malignant lesions had a rich vascularity (sensitivity 89.6% and specificity 48.6%). The combination of quantitative analysis parameters (TTP, WIS) with enhancement degree did not result in higher accuracy in distinguishing between malignant and benign breast lesions.Conclusion: We have demonstrated that contrast-enhanced breast ultrasound has the potential to distinguish between malignant and benign lesions. In particular, this method could help to differentiate lesions BI-RADS category 3 and 4 and thus reduce the number of core-cut biopsies performed in benign lesions. Qualitative analysis, despite its subjective element, appeared to be more beneficial. A combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis did not increase the predictive capability of CEUS.


Author(s):  
Yunlin Huang ◽  
Yurong Hong ◽  
Wen Xu ◽  
Kai Song ◽  
Pintong Huang

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Image Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and a modified TI-RADS in differentiating benign and malignant nodules located in the isthmus. Methods This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Informed consent was obtained. Grayscale ultrasound (US) and CEUS images were obtained for 203 isthmic thyroid nodules (46 benign and 157 malignant) in 198 consecutive patients (156 women, mean age: 44.7 years ± 11.3 [standard deviation]; 47 men, mean age: 40.9 years ± 11.0). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the diagnostic performance of the ACR TI-RADS, CEUS, and the modified TI-RADS were evaluated. Results Lobulated or irregular margins (P = 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 9.250) and punctate echogenic foci (P = 0.007; OR = 4.718) on US and hypoenhancement (P < 0.001; OR = 20.888) on CEUS displayed a significant association with malignancy located in the isthmus. The most valuable method to distinguish benign nodules from malignant nodules was the modified TI-RADS (AUC: 0.863 with modified TR5), which was significantly better than the ACR TI-RADS (AUC: 0.738 with ACR TR5) (P < 0.001) but showed no significant difference with respect to CEUS (AUC: 0.835 with hypoenhancement) (P = 0.205). The diagnostic value was significantly different between CEUS and the ACR TI-RADS (P = 0.028). Conclusion The modified TI-RADS could significantly improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of thyroid nodules located in the isthmus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (06) ◽  
pp. 667-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Schellhaas ◽  
Lukas Pfeifer ◽  
Christian Kielisch ◽  
Ruediger Goertz ◽  
Markus Neurath ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives This pilot study aimed at assessing interobserver agreement with two contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) algorithms for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. Methods Focal liver lesions in 55 high-risk patients were assessed independently by three blinded observers with two standardized CEUS algorithms: ESCULAP (Erlanger Synopsis of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Liver Lesion Assessment in Patients at risk) and ACR-CEUS-LI-RADSv.2016 (American College of Radiology CEUS-Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System). Lesions were categorized according to size and ultrasound contrast enhancement in the arterial, portal-venous and late phase. Interobserver agreement for assessment of enhancement pattern and categorization was compared between both CEUS algorithms. Additionally, diagnostic accuracy for the definitive diagnosis of HCC was compared. Histology and/or CE-MRI and follow-up served as reference standards. Results 55 patients were included in the study (male/female, 44/ 11; mean age: 65.9 years). 90.9 % had cirrhosis. Histological findings were available in 39/55 lesions (70.9 %). Reference standard of the 55 lesions revealed 48 HCCs, 2 intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinomas (ICCs), and 5 non-HCC-non-ICC lesions. Interobserver agreement was moderate to substantial for arterial phase hyperenhancement (ĸ = 0.53 – 0.67), and fair to moderate for contrast washout in the portal-venous or late phase (ĸ = 0.33 – 0.53). Concerning the CEUS-based algorithms, the interreader agreement was substantial for the ESCULAP category (ĸ = 0.64 – 0.68) and fair for the CEUS-LI-RADS® category (ĸ = 0.3 – 0.39). Disagreement between observers was mostly due to different perception of washout. Conclusion Interobserver agreement is better for ESCULAP than for CEUS-LI-RADS®. This is mostly due to the fact that perception of contrast washout varies between different observers. However, interobserver agreement is good for arterial phase hyperenhancement, which is the key diagnostic feature for the diagnosis of HCC with CEUS in the cirrhotic liver.


2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kailing Chen ◽  
Yi Dong ◽  
Weibin Zhang ◽  
Hong Han ◽  
Feng Mao ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To explore the specific contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of hepatocellular adenomas (HCA) according to their pathological molecular classifications. METHODS & MATERIALS: In this retrospective study, fifty-three histopathologically proved HCA lesions (mean size, 39.7±24.9 mm) were included. Final histopathological diagnosis of HCA lesions were identified by surgical resection (n = 51) or biopsy (n = 2) specimens. CEUS imaging features were compared among four subgroups according to World Health Organization (WHO) 2019 pathological molecular classifications standards. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analysis of continuous variables. Fisher’s exact test were used for categorical variables. The sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), and accuracy of CEUS feature in diagnosis of each HCA subtype were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Final histopathological diagnosis included HNF-1α inactivated HCAs (H-HCA, n = 12), β-catenin activated HCAs (B-HCA, n = 8), inflammatory HCAs (I-HCA, n = 31), and unclassified HCAs (U-HCA, n = 2). During arterial phase of CEUS, all HCAs were hyper-enhanced, 66.6% (8/12) of H-HCAs and 50% (4/8) of B-HCAs displayed complete hyperenhancement, whereas 58.0% (18/31) of I-HCAs showed centripetal filling hyperenhancement pattern (P = 0.016). Hyper-enhanced subcapsular arteries could be detected in 64.5% (20/31) I-HCAs during early arterial phase. During portal venous and late phase, sustained hyper- or iso-enhancement were observed in 91.7% (11/12) of H-HCAs, while most of I-HCAs (61.3%, 19/31) and B-HCAs (7/8, 87.5%) were hypo-enhanced (P = 0.000). Central unenhanced areas were most commonly observed in I-HCAs (29.0%, 9/31) (P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Depending on its unique imaging features including enhancement filling pattern, hyper-enhanced subcapsular artery and presence of washout, CEUS might provide helpful diagnostic information for preoperative prediction of various HCA molecular subtypes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Wang ◽  
Dan Yang ◽  
Zhenru Wu ◽  
Yan Luo ◽  
Wenwu Ling

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the concurrent occurrence of primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the liver is extremely rare. Preoperative diagnosis of HCC combined with NEC is very difficult. Here, we presented a case report of HCC combined with NEC. A 33-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to focal liver lesion. To further the diagnosis, he received laboratory tests, conventional ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Grayscale ultrasound showed a hypoechoic nodule with peripheral hypoechoic halo and central small patches of anechoic area in the hepatic segment VI, and the liver background was cirrhosis. In the CEUS, the solid component of the nodule was rapidly homogeneous hyper-enhancement in the arterial phase. Then, the enhancement of the nodule was washed out slowly and gradually; the nodule presented heterogeneously mild enhancement in the portal phase, and slight hypo-enhancement was showed in the late phase. The hypo-enhanced area was mainly located in the surrounding space. Meanwhile, there was a small piece of non-enhanced area within the lesion center in the whole three-phase imaging. MRI showed a lobular contoured mass in segment VI. The patient underwent middle liver resection, splenectomy, and cholecystectomy. The pathological diagnosis was a HCC with NEC. At the time of the preparation of this manuscript, the patient has been alive without recurrence or distant metastases for 6 months since the surgery. We mainly focus on the ultrasound imaging characteristics, especially its enhancement manifestations on CEUS. In this report, since this article is a case report, which is based on the clinical information of the patient and does not involve the patient's privacy, informed consent is not necessary. In addition, the patient agreed to publish the case. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the CEUS patterns of the HCC combined with NEC. Herein, we report a case that provides novel insights that will improve clinicians' awareness of the clinical and ultrasound manifestations of this mixed tumor, resulting in improved diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.


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