February 8, 2020 — Clinical Imaging
Authors: Zehao Tan, Wey Chyi Teoh, Kang Min Wong, Gervais Khin-Lin Wansaicheong, Kumaresan Sandrasegaran
2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinimag.2020.02.002
Abstract
Purpose
To study the comparative performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced CT or MRI (CECT/MR) in evaluating liver lesions using the LI-RADS guidelines.
Methods
Retrospective analysis of radiology database from July 2010 to April 2017 revealed 228 patients who had CECT/MR and CEUS. Patients at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), had contemporaneous CEUS and CECT/CEMR studies within 3 months and adequate follow up were included; reviewed (2 reviewers) and graded according to the 2017 CEUS and 2018 CECT/MR LI-RADS guidelines. Reference standard was multidisciplinary clinical decisions, histology or follow-up imaging.
Results
The study cohort consisted of 45 patients with 46 lesions. HCC were significantly larger than non-malignant (mean sizes of 2.5 and 1.4 cm, respectively, p < .001). Intraclass correlation coefficient for CEUS review (0.941) was higher than of CECT/MR review (0.643). Mean area-under-ROC curve (AUC) for CEUS (0.994) was significantly higher than of CECT/MR (0.760) for all lesions ( p = .01). For lesions scored LR-3 by CECT/MR, the AUC was significantly higher for CEUS (0.978) than CECT/MR (0.500) ( p < .001). Twenty-one (of 27) lesions, classified LR-3 or LR-4 by CECT/MR were upgraded by CEUS and 20 were found to be HCC. Six lesions that were LR-3 on both CECT/MR and CEUS were found to be non-malignant. There was good concordance for LR-5 lesions between both techniques.
Conclusion
CEUS is useful for reassessment of lesions with intermediate probability (LR-3) or probable for HCC (LR-4) on CECT/MR. Lesions upgraded by CEUS tend to be HCC. Lesions that remain LR-3 on CEUS tend to be non-malignant.
