Characterization Of Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound: Comparison With Contrast-enhanced CT

PurposeContrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is one of the most important new technique in the field of ultrasonography in recent years. With the ultrasound contrast agent and harmonic imaging, The diagnostic performance of ultrasound was enhanced greatly.In clinical practice, contrast-enhanced computered tomography(CECT) remains the major method in the differential diagnosis of focal liver lesion(FLL).In this paper, we make a comparision of CEUS and CECT in the differential diagnosis of FLL.MethodsCEUS and CECT were performed on 117 patients with FLL, The diagnostic performance was calculated by final diagnosis as the reference standards,final diagnosis include surgery or needle biopsy or clinical data(contrast enhanced MR,lab tests,history and follow-up and so on).Results The sensitivity of CECT and CEUS in the diagnosis of HCC was73.6% and 96.2% (P = 0.004) .The negative prognostication was 81.3 % and 96.7% (P=0.006). 117 FLL include 78 malignant cases and 39 benign cases. The sensitivity of CECT and CEUS in the differential diagnosis of malignant lesions was 71.8% and 94.9% (P = 0.000), the validity was 77.8% and 92.3% (P=0.002), the negative prognostication was 81.3% and 96.7% (P = 0.006) .ConclusionsCEUS is better than CECT in the diagnosis of HCC and in the differential diagnosis of malignant liver tumors, it provide a totally new method and will play a more and more important role in clinical practice.