超声造影鉴别诊断肝脏局灶性病变的价值

目的探讨超声造影对肝脏局灶性病变的临床诊断价值。方法回顾性分析110例肝脏局灶性病变患者的超声造影检查结果,分析造影表现特征,并经手术或穿刺病理结果证实。结果以手术或穿刺病理确诊结果为标准,超声造影检查对良、恶性肝脏局灶性病变的诊断率分别为97.5%、96%,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。良性病变的增强时间、达峰时间及消退时间均明显晚于恶性病变,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。本组110例肝脏局灶性病变患者超声造影检查诊断出病变114个,表现特征分别为:肝内胆管细胞癌47个,为快进快出特征;肝细胞癌5个,为快进慢出特征;肝转移癌22个,为快进快出特征;肝血管癌20个,为快进快出特征;肝硬化结节7个,为快进快出特征;局灶性脂肪肝8个,为等进等出特征;局灶性结节增生2个,为快进慢出特征;肝脓肿3个,为快进快出特征。结论超声造影对良性和恶性肝脏局灶性病变的鉴别诊断准确率较高,并能清晰反映出不同性质病变的造影增强特征,具有较高的实用价值,值得进一步推广与应用。     

常规超声和超声造影在肝脏良恶性局灶性病变鉴别诊断中的价值对比

目的探讨常规超声和超声造影在肝脏良恶性局灶性病变鉴别诊断中的价值对比。方法回顾性分析常规超声和超声造影检查的230例肝脏良恶性局灶性病变患者共246个病灶的临床资料,比较两种检查方法鉴别诊断肝脏良恶性局灶性病变的效能。结果在246个病灶中,常规超声诊断得出肝脏局灶性病变良性结果53个,肝脏局灶性病变恶性结果136个,共准确诊断189个;超声造影诊断得出肝脏局灶性病变良性结果88个,肝脏局灶性病变恶性结果144个,共准确诊断232个。常规超声和超声造影对肝脏局灶性病变良恶性诊断的敏感度(91.3%,96.6%)、特异度(54.6%,90.7%)、阳性预测值(75.6%,94.1%)、阴性预测值(80.3%,94.6%)及准确性(76.8%,94.3%),除敏感性外,其余指标差异均有统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论在肝脏良恶性局灶性病变鉴别诊断中,超声造影的出现和发展为肝脏良恶性局灶性病变的鉴别诊断提供了新的途径,与常规超声鉴别诊断相比较,具有更高的诊断效能。     

Undetermined focal liver lesions on gray-scale ultrasound in patients with fatty liver: characterization with contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical value and potential impact of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of undetermined focal liver lesions (FLLs) in patients with fatty liver. Methods: Fifty‐two patients (34 men, 18 women) with fatty liver with 67 FLLs (size range, 1–8.6 cm; mean, 4.1 ± 3.1 cm) undetermined at baseline ultrasound (US) underwent contrast‐enhanced US. CEUS examinations were analyzed by two experienced sonologists blinded to the final diagnosis. Readers evaluated by consensus the baseline echogenicity, the dynamic enhancement pattern in comparison with peripheral liver parenchyma. The final diagnosis was based on consensus interpreting of all examinations by another two expert observers with access to histological data. The characterization accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of CEUS in characterizing the lesion as benign or malignant, and as the correct pathologic type, were analyzed. Results: After CEUS, two hemangiomas, three inflammatory pseudotumors, and one hepatocellular carcinoma were misdiagnosed. The overall characterization accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were 91% (61/67), 91.7% (11/12), and 90.9% (50/55), respectively. Forty‐three benign lesions were diagnosed as the correct pathologic type. The portal venous phase and late phase were important in the characterization of the lesions. The characterization accuracy had no relationship with the size of FLLs. Conclusion: CEUS can improve the characterization of undetermined FLLs arising from fatty liver.     

超声造影检查在肝占位性病变诊断中的应用价值

背景:随着超声造影剂及其成像技术的迅速发展,超声造影技术的临床应用日趋成熟,为肝占位性病变的诊断提供了新手段.目的:分析各种不同的肝占位病变在超声造影检查中的表现,探讨其对该类疾病的诊断价值.方法:使用SonoVue造影剂对22例不同类型的肝占位性病变进行超声造影检查,同时以视频影像同步记录造影剂进入肝内血管、肝实质和肝占位性病变的时间和形态的变化.结果:不同类型的肝占位性病变在超声造影检查中显示出不同的动脉相、门静脉相和延迟相的变化.原发性肝癌以造影剂"快进快出"为主要表现;转移性肝癌以延迟相造影剂充盈缺损为主要表现;肝血管瘤以延迟相有显著的造影剂摄取为主要表现;肝脓肿以快速增强持续整个门静脉相和延迟相为主要表现;肝硬化结节则以与肝实质无法区分的同步强化为主要表现.结论:超声造影检查对肝占位性病变的定性诊断明显优于普通超声检查,在显示肿瘤数目,尤其是发现微小病灶方面优于增强CT,提高了超声检查对肝占位性病变的诊断价值.     

Dynamic contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography improves the differential diagnosis of liver lesions

The aim of this paper was to investigate the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions. We prospectively examined 85 focal liver lesions in 71 patients by real-time gray-scale sonography, power Doppler sonography, and contrast-enhanced power Doppler using two ultrasound contrast agents (Levovist, Optison). Amount and architecture of lesion vascularity and the kinetics of contrast enhancement within the lesions were analyzed. Vascularity was detected in 61% of liver lesions (52/85) by conventional power Doppler, compared to 86% (73/85) by contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography. Dynamic contrast-enhanced power Doppler identified arterial radial hypervascularity <16 s after contrast injection in 19/22 focal nodular hyperplasias (86%). Irregular hypervascularity was seen with contrast enhancement in the arterial phase in 14/15 hepatocellular carcinomas (93%). In 14/25 hemangiomas (56%), a circular vascularization pattern was noted. Specific lesion diagnosis based on B-scan and conventional and dynamic contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography led to correct diagnosis in 86% (73/85, 95% confidence interval 78%-94%) compared to 57% (48/85, 95% confidence interval 47%-94%) by B-scan criteria and conventional power Doppler sonography. Contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography improves diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis of focal liver lesions.     

Detection of colorectal cancer hepatic metastases with contrast-enhanced ultrasound: comparison with conventional B-mode ultrasound

The aim of this study was to assess whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CE-US) could provide improved diagnostic information in detecting liver metastases from colorectal cancer as compared to B-mode non-enhanced ultrasound (B-US). 32 patients (M/F 23/9, age range 48-82 years, mean 58.2 years) under chemotherapy for colorectal cancer were examined with B-US and CE-US using a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent and a dedicated protocol for contrast detection. The presence of focal liver lesions along with the number, size, pre- and post-contrast sonographic features were recorded digitally. Lesion conspicuity with a three-grade scoring scale was performed on both techniques and contrast intensity measurements were calculated for each focal lesion. CE-US detected 17% more metastases in patient-by-patient and lesion-by-lesion analysis. A statistically significant difference was found between the scoring mean values with regard to conspicuity of the lesions. Accurate characterization of the liver lesions was achievable only with contrast-enhanced technique. A quantitative contrast intensity measurement method confirmed the invariably washing-out vascular pattern in all metastases at sinusoidal-parenchymal liver phase. In conclusion, CE-US is superior to B-US and provides an effective tool in the investigation of colorectal cancer liver metastases.     

原发性肝癌超声造影诊断的特征性声像图表现

目的探讨超声造影诊断原发性肝癌的特征性声像图表现。方法对经病理检查或穿刺活组织检查确诊的25例(30个病灶)原发性肝癌患者实施超声造影检查,观察患者病灶特征和声像图表现,并将诊断结果与常规超声诊断结果进行比较,判断两种诊断方式的敏感性。结果原发性肝癌的内部结节数目不多,多为单发,病灶与正常组织间界限清楚,边缘处较为整齐,回声除小部分不均匀外,其余皆比较均匀,其形状表现为圆形或类圆形。有19例患者诊断为肝细胞癌,声像图表现为"快进快出","快进快出"表现越为明显患者,其肿瘤分化程度也越低。有6例患者诊断为肝内胆管细胞癌,声像图主要表现为"快进快出",病灶图像在动脉期呈现为网格状增强,部分显示无增强;在门静脉期时,病灶周边环状不规则增高,病灶内部则表现为网格状增强或无增强;当处于门静脉期时,病灶周边环状不规则增强明显消退。超声造影诊断敏感度为96%,与常规超声的72%比较,存在明显差异(P0.05)。结论超声造影诊断原发性肝癌可以清楚的显示病灶图像特征,较常规超声诊断敏感性高。     

虚拟导航超声造影与常规超声造影检查肝硬化背景小肝癌的诊断价值比较

目的探讨虚拟导航超声造影与常规超声造影检查肝硬化背景小肝癌的诊断效能。方法 45例肝硬化患者经增强CT/MRI检查提示肝内局灶性结节共计68个,全部病灶均经病理检查确诊,其中小肝癌45个,肝硬化结节(非小肝癌)23个。分别行常规超声造影检查及虚拟导航超声造影检查,计算2种方法的灵敏度、特异度及正确率等指标。结果常规超声造影诊断小肝癌的灵敏度、特异度及正确率依次为60.0%、69.5%和63.2%,虚拟导航超声造影依次为86.6%、78.3%和83.8%。虚拟导航超声造影诊断小肝癌的灵敏度、特异度和正确率高于常规超声造影(P均<0.05)。结论虚拟导航超声造影可检出常规超声造影不易检出的肝硬化结节背景下小肝癌,为临床诊断提供有效支持。     

Diagnosis of liver nodules observed in chronic liver disease patients during ultrasound screening for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate the nature of focal liver lesions detected during the ultrasound follow-up of a population (prevalently anti-hepatitis C virus [anti-HCV] positive) with chronic liver disease. METHODS: The study population consisted of 1827 consecutive newly diagnosed chronic liver disease cases without liver nodules at enrollment. Patients were screened at 4-month intervals by ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein assessment. All lesions detected on imaging studies (except those accompanied by diagnostic a-fetoprotein levels) were subjected to biopsy (histology and cytology). RESULTS: During the 7-yr follow-up period (mean = 43.1 months), one or more solid focal lesions were found in 287 patients. a-Fetoprotein was diagnostic for hepatocellular carcinoma in 51 patients. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy was performed in the remaining 236 patients, yielding a diagnosis in 214: 198 hepatocellular carcinomas, 11 dysplastic nodules, and five B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (all confined to the liver and all in patients with chronic HCV infection). Twenty-two patients with nondiagnostic biopsies received diagnoses of hepatocellular carcinoma (20) or dysplastic nodules (two) based on arteriography or surgical biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Focal lesions arising in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease can be other than hepatocellular carcinoma, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy plays an important role in their diagnosis. The prevalence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in this selected population was 0.31%. The fact that all five lymphoma patients had cirrhosis related to hepatitis C strengthens the hypothesis of an etiological correlation between the latter infection and B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.     

Characterization of liver lesions by real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the most common patterns of various common liver lesions at real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with second-generation contrast agents and their role in the differentiation of malignant from benign lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The enhancement pattern in the arterial phase and its modifications in subsequent portal and sinusoidal phases were separately evaluated in (i) 171 liver lesions detected at conventional ultrasonography in 125 noncirrhotic patients (87 metastases, six cholangiocellular carcinoma, 38 focal nodular hyperplasia, 30 hemangiomas, seven focal fatty sparing/changes, two hepatocellular adenomas and one hepatocellular carcinoma) and (ii) 75 lesions detected in 67 cirrhotic patients (66 hepatocellular carcinoma and nine dysplastic nodules). The final diagnosis was made by contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging or by ultrasonography-guided biopsy when the diagnosis was equivocal at conventional imaging techniques (45 lesions). RESULTS: In noncirrhotic patients, the hypoechoic pattern in portal and sinusoidal phase (rapid washout) or the markedly hypoechoic or anechoic pattern in sinusoidal phase (marked late washout) showed a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 96.8, 100 and 98.2% for the diagnosis of malignancy. In cirrhotic patients, early arterial enhancement showed a sensitivity of 93.9% for the diagnosis of malignancy, with a specificity as low as 55.5% given the presence of arterial enhancement in 5/9 nodules resulted dysplastic at histological analysis. CONCLUSION: Real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonography provides sensitive and specific criteria for the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant liver lesions, and in most cases it may replace more expensive and invasive imaging techniques.     

Harmonic imaging for improving diagnosis of liver tumors--preliminary report

Contrast harmonic imaging (CHI) is a new Doppler technology using the non-linear properties of ultrasound contrast agents. AIM: In this pilot study contrast harmonic imaging was evaluated for the detection and characterization of liver lesions. METHODS: Tumor vascularity patterns and diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions were compared in 50 liver lesions using gray-scale sonography, unenhanced and enhanced power Doppler sonography and CHI. In addition, CHI was compared to spiral-CT for the detection of liver metastases in 28 patients. RESULTS: CHI was superior to power Doppler sonography in the visualization of vascularity pattern. Due to the better resolution and image quality of tumor vascularity the diagnostic accuracy of CHI in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions was higher (88% CHI versus 40% unenhanced power Doppler, and 58% contrast-enhanced power Doppler). In the detection of liver metastasis CHI showed a higher sensitivity (96.8%) compared to spiral-CT (74.6%) in 28 patients with 63 metastases. CONCLUSIONS: CHI is a promising new ultrasound technology to further improve the differential diagnosis of liver lesions and the detection of metastases.     

Hypoechoic lesions in the ''bright liver'': A reliable indicator of fatty change. A prospective study

The accuracy of ultrasonographic diagnosis of hypoechoic focal fatty change in the 'bright liver' was evaluated in 40 lesions found in 35 patients followed up for a mean period of 37.8 months. Patients with ultrasound and laboratory findings suggesting liver cirrhosis were excluded from the study. All patients underwent a blind liver biopsy in order to verify the diagnosis of diffuse disease suggested by the finding of 'bright liver'. No guided biopsy was performed on the focal lesions in order to establish the accuracy of ultrasound alone in recognizing focal fatty change. Clinical, haematologic and echographic follow-up confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. All histological specimens revealed liver steatosis, indicating a 100% sensitivity of ultrasonography in identifying non-cirrhotic fatty liver with an accompanying focal change. Increased echogenicity and hypoechoic focal changes are reliable indicators of fatty infiltration, making ultrasonography an acceptable, non-invasive method for the diagnosis of liver steatosis.     

Mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of pancreatic mass and mass-like lesions

AIM: To investigate the role of mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP) in focal pancreatic masses and mass-like lesions by evaluating contrast uptake features of the lesions and pancreatic parenchyma after contrast medium injection. METHODS: A total of 37 patients with pancreatic mass or mass-like lesions were examined by unenhanced and MnDPDP-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: MRI was obtained 20-40 min after infusion of MnDPDP and homogeneous contrast enhancement was observed in normal pancreas parenchyma. In patients with atrophic pancreas there was no enhancement in pancreatic parenchyma on MnDPDP-enhanced MRI. In 37 patients with 41 pancreatic masses and mass-like lesions, contrast enhancement was observed at 5 lesions on MnDPDP enhanced MRI. Three of these 5 lesions were focal pancreatitis and the other 2 were adenocarcinoma. No contrast enhancement was determined in 36 pancreatic masses and mass-like lesions in 32 patients. CONCLUSION: MnDPDP contrast-enhanced MRI, especially in cases with no parenchyma atrophy, can distinguish focal pancreatic lesion margins. Information about the function of pancreatic parenchyma can be obtained out of tumor. MnDPDP facilitates staging of pancreatic tumors by detection of metastatic lesions in the liver. In addition, diminished heteregenous uptake of MnDPDP in patients with pancreatitis may be helpful in differential diagnosis.     

Diagnosis of small hepatic nodules detected by surveillance ultrasound in patients with cirrhosis: Comparison between contrast-enhanced ultrasound and contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography.

Aim: To investigate the diagnostic value for the diagnosis of small (1-2 cm) hepatic nodules detected by surveillance ultrasound in patients with cirrhosis using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared with that of contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography (CECT). Methods: Seventy-two liver cirrhosis patients with 103 small hepatic nodules (1-2 cm) detected by surveillance ultrasound were enrolled in the present study. All patients underwent CEUS with SonoVue as well as CECT. Nodules which appeared by contrast enhancement during the arterial phase and contrast wash-out during the late phase on CEUS or CECT were diagnosed as malignant (hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]). Histopathology obtained from biopsy or surgery served as the gold standard. Results: According to the above diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity (i.e. rate of correct diagnosis of HCC) was 91.1% (51/56 HCC) for CEUS and the specificity (i.e. the rate of correct exclusion of HCC) was 87.2% (41/47 regenerative nodules [RN]).Therefore, the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS was 89.3% (92/103 all nodules). Using the same diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CECT were 80.4% (45/56 HCC), 97.9% (46/47 RN), and 88.4% (91/103 all nodules). Overall, there was no significant difference between CEUS and CECT in the diagnostic confidence of small hepatic nodules. Eighty-six nodules (45 HCC and 41 RN) were correctly diagnosed by both modalities and six (five HCC and one RN) were misdiagnosed by both. Conclusion: The ability of CEUS in the characterization of small nodules (1-2 cm) detected by surveillance US in patients with liver cirrhosis is similar to that of CECT.     

LI-RADS超声分类诊断肝脏占位性病变准确性分析

目的 探讨应用LI-RADS超声分类方法诊断肝脏占位性病变的准确性。方法 2018年1月～2019年9月我院经病理学检查诊断为肝脏占位性病变患者60例,均接受超声造影检查。按照LI-RADS分类方法,分别以LR-3(方法1)和LR-4a(方法2)作为为截断点,分析两种方法鉴别良恶性病变的效能。结果 在60例肝占位性病变患者中,综合诊断肝囊肿4例,肝血管瘤16例,肝脓肿8例,肝局灶性脂肪变9例,肝局灶性结节性增生9例,肝细胞癌8例,肝转移瘤6例;以病理学检查诊断为金标准,方法1诊断恶性病变22例,良性病变38例。方法 2诊断恶性病变14例,良性病变46例;方法1诊断的灵敏度、特异度和正确率分别为85.7%、78.2%和80.0%,而方法2则分别为78.6%、93.5%(P<0.05)和100.0%(P<0.05)。结论 采用LI-RADS 方法2分辨肝脏占位性病变的性质具有很高的准确性,其临床应用价值值得进一步研究。     

超声造影在肝硬化诊断中的作用

随着新的超声造影剂及声学技术的发展，对肝脏病变的超声诊断进入了一个全新的阶段，超声造影已经提高了早期诊断肝硬化及肝硬化结节背景下小肝癌的准确性，本文就超声造影在肝硬化诊断中的作用作一综述。     

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of histologically proven liver hemangiomas

Differentiation of small and atypical hemangiomas from other hepatic masses using imaging methods can be difficult, especially in patients with underlying malignant disease. Therefore, contrast-enhanced ultrasound was assessed in patients with histologically confirmed hemangiomas with respect to contrast-enhancing kinetics and tumor characteristics. In 58 patients with indeterminate hepatic lesions demonstrated with at least 2 imaging methods (ultrasound/computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound-guided liver biopsy revealed hemangioma. In all patients a hepatic neoplasm had been suspected because of underlying malignant disease (n=41), liver cirrhosis (n=15), or growth of the lesion (n=2). All patients underwent nonlinear, low mechanical index real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound scanning with bolus injections of SonoVue. Peripheral nodular arterial enhancement was detected in 43 patients (74%), whereas the typical metastatic peripheral rim-like enhancement was not observed at all. Strong homogenous arterial enhancement was found in 9 of 58 (16%) patients. In 6 patients (10%), the arterial contrast enhancement pattern could not be determined because of the very small size of the lesions or fibrotic nodules. Forty-five (78%) of the hemangiomas showed homogenous centripetal filling within 180 seconds. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound demonstrates typical hemangioma imaging characteristics, that is, peripheral nodular contrast enhancement and iris-diaphragm sign in a high percentage of patients with undetermined lesions. This technique may therefore improve noninvasive functional characterization and differentiation of hemangiomas.     

Contrast-enhanced sonography versus biopsy for the differential diagnosis of thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

AIM： To clarify which method has accuracy： 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound or biopsy of portal vein thrombus in the differential diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis.METHODS： One hundred and eighty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis underwent in blinded fashion a 2nd generation contrastenhanced ultrasound and biopsy of portal vein thrombus; both results were examined on the basis of the follow-up of patients compared to reference-standard.RESULTS： One hundred and eight patients completed the study. Benign thrombosis on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound was characterised by progressive hypoenhancing of the thrombus; in malignant portal vein thrombosis there was a precocious homogeneous enhancement of the thrombus. On follow-up there were 50 of 108 patients with benign thrombosis：all were correctly diagnosed by both methods. There were 58 of 108 patients with malignant thrombosis： amongst these, 52 were correctly diagnosed by both methods, the remainder did not present malignant cells on portal vein thrombus biopsy and showed on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound an inhomogeneous enhancement pattern. A new biopsy during the follow-up, guided to the area of thrombus that showed up on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound, demonstrated an enhancing pattern indicating malignant cells.CONCLUSION： In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by portal vein thrombosis, 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound of portal vein thrombus is very useful in assessing the benign or malignant nature of the thrombus. Puncture biopsy of thrombus is usually accurate but presents some sampling errors, so, when pathological results are required, 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound could guide the sampling needle to the correct area of the thrombus.     

value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder lesion

AIM To describe contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) features and evaluate differential diagnosis value of CEUS and conventional ultrasound for patients with benign and malignant gallbladder lesions. METHODS This study included 105 gallbladder lesions. Before surgical resection and pathological examination, conventional ultrasound and CEUS were performed to examine for lesions. Then, all the lesions were diagnosed as(1) benign,(2) probably benign,(3) probably malignant or(4) malignant using both conventional ultrasound and CEUS. The CEUS features of these gallbladder lesions were analyzed and diagnostic efficiency between conventional ultrasound and CEUS was compared.RESULTS There were total 17 cases of gallbladder cancer and 88 cases of benign lesion. Some gallbladder lesions had typical characteristics on CEUS(e.g., gallbladder adenomyomatosis had typical characteristics of small nonenhanced areas on CEUS). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of CEUS were 94.1%, 95.5%, 80.0%, 98.8%and 95.2%, respectively. These were significantly higher than conventional ultrasound(82.4%, 89.8%, 60.9%, 96.3% and 88.6%, respectively). CEUS had an accuracy of 100% for gallbladder sludge and CEUS helped in differential diagnosis among gallbladder polyps, gallbladder adenoma and gallbladder cancer.CONCLUSION CEUS may provide more useful information and improve the diagnosis efficiency for the diagnosis of gallbladder lesions than conventional ultrasound.     

Application of superb microvascular imaging in focal liver lesions

AIM To explore the ability of superb microvascular imaging(SMI) in differential diagnosis of focal liver lesions(FLLs) and to compare SMI morphology findings to those of color Doppler ultrasound and enhanced imaging.METHODS Twenty-four patients with 31 FLLs were included in our study,with diagnoses of hemangioma(HE)(n = 17),hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)(n = 5),metastatic lesions(n = 5),primary hepatic lymphoma(n = 1),focal nodular hyperplasia(FNH)(n = 2),and adenoma(n = 1). Nine lesions were pathologically diagnosed,and 22 lesions were radiologically confirmed,all of which were evaluated by at least two types of enhanced imaging techniques. All patients had undergone SMI. Patients were divided into subgroups based on pathological and radiological diagnoses to analyze SMI manifestations. We also compared the SMI manifestations of the most common malignant FLLs(HCCs and metastatic lesions) with those of the most common benign FLLs(HEs).RESULTS HEs were classified into three SMI subgroups: diffuse dot-like type(n = 6),strip rim type(n = 8),and nodular rim type(n = 3). The sizes of the three types of HEs were significantly different(P = 0.00, 0.05). HCCs were classified into two subgroups: diffuse honeycomb type(n = 2) and non-specific type(n = 3). Four of the metastatic lesions were the strip rim type,and the other metastatic lesion was the thick rim type,which is the same as that of lymphoma. FNH was described as a spoke-wheel type,and adenoma as a diffuse honeycomb type. The SMI types of HCCs and metastatic lesions were significantly different from those of HEs(P = 0.048, 0.05).CONCLUSION SMI technology enables microvascular evaluation of FLLs without using any contrast agent. For HEs,lesion size may affect SMI performance. SMI is able to provide useful information for differential diagnosis of HCCs and metastatic lesions from HEs.