Diagnostic accuracy of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound in differentiating benign and malignant focal liver lesions: A retrospective study

Abstract

Our early experience has shown that CEUS can be accurate in differentiating malignant from benign FLLs and may become a useful first-line imaging tool where CT or MRI are not available or contra-indicated.

Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound for the differentiation of benign and malignant focal liver lesions: a meta‐analysis

“…However, while no difference in sensitivity was observed between prospective studies as compared with retrospective studies (93% vs. 92%, P = 0.67), a significantly higher specificity was observed for retrospective studies (93% vs. 88%, P = 0.0152). Details are shown in Table…”

Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Contrast-Enhanced Sonography

“…The use of contrast‐enhanced sonography has been found to provide a method for better differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma, especially with the advent of the sonographic contrast agent SonoVue (Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy). Several reports indicated that contrast‐enhanced sonography can improve the ability to detect and characterize the intranodular vascularity of hepatic lesions and normal parenchymal vascularity using Doppler imaging 17 – 20 . The purpose of this study was to determine whether SonoVue‐enhanced sonography can be used to differentiate histopathologic grades of hepatocellular carcinoma.…”

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative assessment of liver lesions

“…The overall CEUS sensitivity for hepatic lesions was 86-100%, specificity 80-100%, accuracy 88-98%, positive predictive value 90-97% and negative predictive value 89-96%. 30,46,52,56,62,63,[65][66][67] When compared to non-contrast-enhanced US, CEUS increased the detection 44,45,48,49,59,60 and characterization rates 30,[45][46][47][48][55][56][57]69,73 of hepatic lesions, leading to a more correct diagnosis about their nature. 52,53,[55][56][57]60 The superiority over non-contrast enhanced US was also proved in difficult clinical situations as for example after chemotherapy or for small metastases.…”