Widespread micronodular hepatic metastases of neuroendocrine tumor detected by [68Ga]DOTATATE PET/CT

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) encompass a diverse, heterogeneous group of neoplasms that originate from the secretory cells of the neuroendocrine system. These neoplasms typically express the somatostatin receptor (SSTR), which can be targeted by molecular agents for imaging and therapy. This is particularly advantageous for imaging NETs that are indolent, slow-growing, and less well detected by [¹⁸F]FDG and for the detection of occult disease not easily identified by anatomic imaging. Herein, we present a case in which [⁶⁸Ga]DOTATATE PET/CT was used to diagnose the etiology of biochemical recurrence in NET that was not apparent on MRI. The importance of understanding deviations from the normal biodistribution of the radiotracer is emphasized as key in interpreting nuclear medicine studies and establishing the diagnosis. Imaging the SSTR is of particular interest given the recent FDA approval of [⁶⁸Cu]DOTATATE as a new and possibly more available molecular radiotracer.     

Fluid-fluid level in hepatic metastases: a characteristic sign of metastases of neuroendocrine origin

Objectives

The aim of this study is to determine MRI characteristics which indicate liver metastases of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) rather than metastases of other origin (non-NET).

Methods

Sixty-nine patients with histopathologically proven liver metastases from NET and 69 patients with known liver metastases of other origin underwent MRI of the liver using a 1.5 T MR-scanner. Two board certified radiologists assessed presence of fluid–fluid-levels, number and distribution pattern, signal intensity (SI) characteristics, lesion homogeneity, presence of central necrosis and intratumoral hemorrhage in T2w and T1w non-contrast imaging. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent association of image findings and occurrence of NET.

Results

Fluid–fluid-levels were identified in 19/69 of patients with NET-metastases, and in none of the patients in the control group (p < 0.0001). Hyperintense SI in T1w imaging, markedly hyperintense SI in T2w imaging, a disseminated distribution pattern and intratumoral hemorrhage were indicative of NET metastases (p < 0.05). After statistical adjustment for all significant MRI findings, fluid–fluid-levels (OR: 17.6, 95% CI: 1.9–166.5), strongly hyperintense SI in T2w (OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.8–12.7) and a disseminated distribution pattern (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1–7.4) were independent predictors for NET metastases.

Conclusions

The presence of fluid–fluid-levels is highly indicative of NET liver metastases and can be used as an independent predictor to distinguish them from metastases of other origin.     

Liver metastases of neuroendocrine carcinomas: interventional treatment via transarterial embolization, chemoembolization and thermal ablation

The aim of this review article is to provide a practical clinical guideline for indication, technical aspects, protocol guideline and strategies for the interventional treatment of liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors and focusing on the results of various protocols of management. The response to therapy, in the published articles, is calculated on the basis of the following clinical parameters; including symptomatic response (SR), biologic response (BR), morphological response (MR), progress free survival (PFS), and survival periods (SP). Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been associated with SR rates of 60-95%, BR of 50-90%, MR of 33-80%, SR of 20-80 months, and a 5-year survival of between 50% and 65%. PFS was also between 18 and 24 months. In the transarterial embolization (TAE) group, SR was similar to the TACE group, MR was 32% and 82%, survival was between 18 and 88 months with a survival rate of 40-67%, and BR was between 50% and 69%. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), either percutaneous or during surgery, has been associated with SR of 71-95% for a mean duration of 8-10 months, BR of 65%, and mean SP of 1.6 years after ablation. The mean survival following surgical resection for operable cases is 4.26 years ± S.D.: 1.1.

Conclusion

The interventional protocols for the management of liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors: for oligonodular liver metastatic deposits, local resection or RFA and/or LITT is recommended, while in multinodular diseases with higher tumor load, TACE or TAE is recommended.     

Bilateral breast metastases as the first manifestation of an occult pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

Breast metastases are uncommon findings compared to primary breast cancer and in particular bilateral secondary breast lesions from neuroendocrine tumor (NET)s are extremely rare with just less over 13 cases described in literature. We reported herewith the case of a 54-year-old woman who presented to our Breast Unit after noticing multiple, mobile, bilateral breast lumps. Imaging studies confirmed the presence of multiple, circumscribed, bilateral breast masses with slightly spiculated margins, classified as suspicious for malignancy (BI-RADS 4). A tru-cut biopsy was carried out on the largest lesion of each side and histopathologic and immunohistochemistry examination was consistent with metastases from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET). Total-body CT revealed the presence of a mass located in the pancreatic body - tail with associated abdominal lymphadenopathies and multiple secondary nodules in bilateral breast and in the liver. Stage IV disease was diagnosed, patient did not undergo surgery and started LAR – octreotide therapy. Although rare, breast metastases from NETs represent an important diagnostic challenge for practitioners because of the difficulty to differentiate from a primary breast carcinoma or even from benign breast lesions. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of bilateral breast metastases in differential diagnosis of breast lesions in order to ensure the correct diagnosis and the most appropriate management of these patients.     

Therapy evaluation of neuroendocrine liver metastases with contrast-enhanced MRI

Seventeen patients with neuroendocrine liver metastases, 14 of whom were treated with interferon, were examined with MRI before and after contrast administration to evaluate whether there were signal characteristics, differences in homogeneity and/or contrast enhancement patterns that indicated response to or failure of treatment. Of the treated patients 6 objectively responded to treatment (OR), 3 had progressive disease (PD) and 5 had stable disease (SD). A significant difference was found between the SD, untreated (UT) and OR groups of patients in terms of T1 (P = 0.01) and contrast enhancement (P = 0.02). The signal intensity ratio (SIR) in T2-weighted images between tumour and liver was significantly different (P = 0.05) between the OR and PD groups. This indicates that MRI may be used in therapy monitoring of patients with neuroendocrine metastases. Neuroendocrine metastases in the OR group had the same T1 and SIR values as those reported for haemangiomas, while patients in the PD, SD and UT groups had SIR values similar to those for colorectal metastases. Correspondence to: A. Elvin     

DEB-TACE治疗神经内分泌肿瘤肝转移的疗效初探

目的 初步探讨经动脉载药微球化疗栓塞(DEB-TACE)治疗神经内分泌肿瘤(NEN)肝转移的初步疗效及安全性.方法 回顾性分析2019年3月至2020年1月在介入科治疗的27例NEN肝转移患者的临床资料,原发灶位于胰腺20例,十二指肠3例、直肠4例.术前均经病理学确诊.其中12例接受DEB-TACE治疗(DEB-TAC...     

Transarterial chemoembolization with miriplatin-lipiodol emulsion for neuroendocrine metastases of the liver

Miriplatin, a cisplatin derivative with a high affinity for iodized oil, is a novel chemotherapeutic agent designed for use in the transarterial treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. This case report describes our experience with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using miriplatin in 2 patients with neuroendocrine liver metastases. A 38-year-old man with multiple neuroendocrine liver metastases was treated by whole liver chemoembolization, and a 35-year-old woman with a single hepatic lesion was treated by superselective chemoembolization. No serious adverse events were noted during the interventional procedures, or during the observation period of 3 mo in either patient. Sufficient iodized oil uptake was observed in the hypervascular lesions on the unenhanced computed tomography (CT) at 7 d after the procedure. Contrast-enhanced CT obtained at 3 mo after chemoembolization revealed that all hepatic lesions were substantially reduced in size irrespective of tumor vascularity or degree of cystic degeneration, although iodized oil accumulation was only marginal for lesions with cystic degeneration. Thus, TACE with miriplatin can be a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of neuroendocrine metastases of the liver.     

Morphological and functional investigations of neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas

Neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas are rare neoplasms arising predominantly from the pancreatic islets of Langerhans and are thus known as islet cell tumors. More than the half of all neuroendocrine tumors are called functioning islet cell tumors because they secrete one or more biologically active peptides that may produce clinical symptoms. Clinical diagnosis of non-functioning, i.e., biologically inactive, tumors is often delayed and patients tend to present with advanced tumors (size greater than 5 cm) that are easily localized by using conventional imaging modalities. On the other hand, symptoms of functioning islet cell tumors usually appear early in the clinical course, rendering the preoperative localization of these small hormone-producing tumors (size less than 2 cm) difficult with non-invasive methods. Since functioning islet cell tumors can often be cured by surgical resection, invasive procedures are warranted when necessary for localization diagnosis. Failure to search for, detect, and resect these small tumors will invariably result in persistent symptoms. Regarding the unsatisfactory results of morphological imaging methods, functional studies, especially arterial stimulation with hepatic venous samplings, may provide a preoperative regionalization of the pancreatic adenoma, regardless of its size.     

原位肝移植术后肝动脉并发症介入治疗患者的预后及其影响因素分析

目的 探讨介入治疗肝移植术后肝动脉并发症患者的预后及影响预后的相关因素.方法 回顾性分析21例肝移植术后发牛肝动脉并发症,并接受肝动脉溶栓、腔内血管成形术(PTA)和(或)肝动脉支架置入术等治疗患者的临床资料,根据移植肝脏预后分为预后不良组和预后较好组,比较2组胆道并发症、肝动脉再狭窄、早期并发症或是晚期并发症等15项变量,采用二值Logistic回归分析方法 筛选出影响介入治疗疗效的因素.结果 21例患者平均随访时间为436 d,中位随访时问464 d(3～1037 d).其中预后不良组11例(5例再次肝移植,6例死亡),平均存活时间191 d,中位存活时问为73 d(3～616 d);预后较好组10例,移植肝平均存活时间706 d,中位存活时间692 d(245～1037 d).单因素分析两组患者差异有统计学意义的因素有:胆道并发症、血总胆红素水平以及间接胆红素水平;经Logistic回归分析显示,主要危险因素是胆道并发症(P=0.027,OR=22.818). .结论 伴有胆道并发症,是影响肝移植术后肝动脉并发症患者介入治疗效果的主要因素.     

生长抑素受体显像剂在神经内分泌肿瘤中的临床研究进展

神经内分泌肿瘤（NETs）是一类起源于神经内分泌细胞的异质恶性肿瘤,分化良好的NETs可过度表达生长抑素受体（SSTR）。放射性同位素标记的生长抑素类似物与SSTR的特异性结合可实现NETs的功能成像,对NETs的诊断及其患者的临床管理具有重要意义。近年来,研究者已成功研发出多种靶向SSTR的示踪剂并应用于临床,笔者总结了用于SPECT和PET的SSTR显像剂在NETs中的临床应用及其研究进展。     

90Y-DOTATOC对人胰腺神经内分泌瘤BON-1细胞的抑制作用

目的 探讨90Y-1,4,7,10-四氮杂环十二烷-1,4,7,10-四乙酸-酪氨酸3-奥曲肽（DOTATOC）对人胰腺神经内分泌瘤细胞BON-1的抑制作用。 方法 （1）采用90Y对DOTATOC进行标记,然后纯化90Y-DOTATOC;（2）考察90Y-DOTATOC的体外稳定性;（3）采用噻唑蓝（MTT）法,分别考察90Y、DOTATOC、90Y-DOTATOC对人胰腺神经内分泌瘤细胞BON-1和人胰腺胆管瘤细胞PANC-1的抑制作用,并分别计算细胞增殖抑制率。设立阴性对照组、阳性对照组（长春新碱,50 μmol/L）、DOTATOC组（25 μmol/L）、90Y组（1.8 MBq/ml）、90Y-DOTATOC高剂量组（90Y的放射性浓度为1.8 MBq/ml,DOTATOC的浓度为25 μmol/L）、90Y-DOTATOC中剂量组（90Y的放射性浓度为0.37 MBq/ml,DOTATOC的浓度为25 μmol/L）、90Y-DOTATOC低剂量组（90Y的放射性浓度为0.074 MBq/ml,DOTATOC的浓度为25 μmol/L）。组间比较采用独立样本t检验。 结果 （1）90Y标记DOTATOC的标记率为（61.93±3.53）%,放射化学纯度为（98.88±0.38）%,放射性浓度为4.6 MBq/ml,比活度为1.6 GBq/μmol。（2）90Y-DOTATOC在生理盐水和10%胎牛血清中放置7 d后的放射化学纯度分别为97.73%和97.02%。（3）加药24、48 h后,与阴性对照组相比,DOTATOC组对BON-1细胞的抑制作用均显著增高,且差异有统计学意义（t=2.654,3.981,均P<0.05）;加药24、48 h后,90Y-DOTATOC高、中剂量组对BON-1和PANC-1细胞的抑制作用均优于DOTATOC组,且差异有统计学意义（t=2.267~3.852,均P<0.05）;加药24、48 h后,90Y组对PANC-1和BON-1细胞的抑制作用均明显低于90Y-DOTATOC高剂量组,且差异有统计学意义（t=2.698~3.180,均P<0.05）。 结论 90Y-DOTATOC对BON-1细胞有较强的抑制作用,且与90Y的活度呈剂量依赖关系。与单独使用DOTATOC或者90Y对比,90Y-DOTATOC对BON-1细胞的抑制作用更强。     

Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced sonography of hepatic tumors

Liver tumors are defined using quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound compared to histological diagnosis, respectively, long-term follow-ups. Forty-two focal liver lesions in 39 patients were examined by contrast harmonic imaging over a period of 2 min after bolus injection of 10-ml galactose-based contrast agent. Vascular enhancement was quantified by using a dedicated software that allowed us to place representative regions of interest (ROI) in the center of the lesion, in the complete lesion, in regular liver parenchyma and in representative liver vessels (artery, vein and portal vein). Peak enhancement was judged to be either in the arterial, portal venous or in the late phase of liver perfusion. The lesion was described as hypovascular, isovascular and hypervascular compared to liver parenchyma. Contrast uptake was described as centrifugal or centripetal and peripheral or homogenous, respectively. Characterization of the lesions was performed unenhanced and after contrast by four independent specialists unaware of histology. Diagnosis of malignancy was evaluated by using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, also overall accuracy, average sensitivity, specificity and negative and positive predictive values were calculated. Interobserver agreement was defined by the Kappa statistics. Histologic examination revealed 29 malignant [hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), n=11; cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC), n=1; lymphoma, n=1; metastases, n=16)] and 7 benign [hemangioma, n=1; focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), n=4, adenoma, n=2)] lesions. Six benign lesions (hemangioma n=1; FNH n=5) were proved by long-term follow-up. ROC analysis regarding the diagnosis of malignancy showed values from 0.43 to 0.62 (mean 0.57) before and from 0.70 to 0.80 (mean 0.75) after contrast agent, respectively. The average values for sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and negative and positive predictive values were 66, 26, 62, 45 and 73% unenhanced and 83, 49, 73, 65 and 82% after contrast, respectively. The interobserver agreement was 0.54 and 0.65 for unenhanced and enhanced examinations, respectively. Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced sonography improves the diagnosis of malignancy in liver lesions.     

Dynamic MR imaging of liver metastases with Gd-EOB-DTPA

Purpose: To assess liver and lesion enhancements by dynamic MR imaging after bolus injection of the hepatobiliary contrast agent gadolinium ethoxybenzyldiethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) in patients with liver metastases and to compare the effect of different doses.Material and Methods: A randomized double-blinded trial with doses of 12.5, 25 and 50 μmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA was performed in 35 patients with liver metastases. Liver enhancement, tumor enhancement and liver lesion contrast-to-noise (C/N) ratios were calculated from breath-hold gradient echo images (100/5/80°) recorded precontrast and at different times up to 10 min postcontrast.Results: Normal liver showed a characteristic enhancement pattern, with a rapid enhancement in the first 45 s postcontrast and a slight but significant further increase up to 600 s. The initial enhancement in the lesions was also pronounced, but the enhancement was slightly decreased after 240 s postcontrast. At dose levels of 12.5 and 25 μmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA, C/N ratios significantly increased compared to baseline from 90 to 600 s. Postcontrast C/N-values obtained using 50 μmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA were not significantly increased, except for the examinations 480 s postcontrast.Conclusion: In liver metastases, C/N ratios obtained with doses of 12.5 and 25 μmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA were slightly superior to 50 μmol/kg Gd-EOB-DTPA. This finding is probably due to a more pronounced extracellular effect of the contrast medium at higher doses.     

胃肠道间质瘤肝转移灶的18F-FDG PET/CT显像特点

目的分析胃肠道间质瘤(GIST)肝转移灶¹⁸F-脱氧葡萄糖(FDG)PET/CT显像特点,以提高诊断准确性。方法回顾性分析2013年5月至2019年7月间在福建省肿瘤医院行¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT检查并确诊肝转移的33例GIST患者(男18例,女15例,年龄34~70岁)的临床和影像资料。患者均行¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT早期显像,另有9例后行延迟显像。对患者PET/CT图像行视觉分析,比较病灶与肝本底的放射性摄取,将转移灶分为高代谢、稍高代谢、等或低代谢;计算并比较GIST原发灶与肝转移灶的最大标准摄取值(SUVmax),另分析两者的关系。采用Wilcoxon秩和检验和Spearman秩相关分析数据。结果33例GIST的肝转移患者中,肝转移单发9例,多发24例,共104个病灶。104个肝转移病灶直径为0.8~14.6[2.2(1.5,3.9)]cm,SUVmax为1.4~21.5[3.6(2.4,5.7)]。94.2%(98/104)的病灶边界清楚;65.4%(68/104)的病灶密度均匀(其中2个囊性病灶),34.6%(36/104)的病灶密度不均匀,可见出血、囊变或坏死。PET图像视觉分析中,38.4%(40/104)的病灶为高代谢,26.0%(27/104)的病灶为稍高代谢,35.6%(37/104)的病灶为等或低代谢。24例多发肝转移患者中,79.2%(19/24)同时存在不同代谢水平的病灶。67个代谢增高病灶中,34.3%(23/67)呈均匀代谢,其中13个病灶直径<2.0 cm;65.7%(44/67)呈不均匀代谢,其中36个病灶直径≥2.0 cm。15例GIST同时性肝转移患者的原发灶与肝转移灶SUVmax[9.2(6.8,14.5)与3.8(2.1,6.0)]间呈中等程度相关(rs=0.556,P<0.01);两者差异有统计学意义(z=-5.098,P<0.01)。延迟显像中,13/15的等或低代谢肝转移病灶转为稍高代谢。结论GIST肝转移¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT显像通常边界清楚,常合并囊变、出血或坏死;代谢表现多样;延迟显像有助于低代谢GIST肝转移病灶的诊断。     

影响胰腺癌疗效的多因素分析

目的探讨影响胰腺癌疗效的因素。方法120例胰腺癌进行统计学分析,应用COX比例风险模型对可能影响胰腺癌疗效的指标进行多因素分析,并用Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率。结果肿瘤分期和KPS评分是影响胰腺癌预后的独立因素。结论肿瘤分期和KPS评分是影响胰腺癌治疗后生存期的相关因素。     

原发性肝、胆囊神经内分泌癌的影像学表现

目的 回顾原发性肝、胆囊神经内分泌癌(PHGNC)影像学表现及临床症状。方法 患者5例，男1例，女4例。长期腹泻4例，药物难以控制，其中伴腹痛2例；肿瘤出血，导致肝破裂1例。超声检查5例，CT检查4例，肝动脉造影检查3例。肿瘤发生在肝脏3例，发生在肝脏及胆囊1例，发生在胆囊1例。手术证实3例、活检及尸检证实各1例。结果 肝内多发肿瘤3例，单发肿瘤1例。超声表现：肝内不均匀强回声肿块2例，不均匀低回声肿块1例，内有一些小液化区，瘤体彩色血流丰富；肝内以囊性为主的巨大囊实性肿块1例；1例胆囊肿瘤表现为胆囊壁隆起性结节，无特异性征象。CT表现：肝脏内不均匀密度肿块，增强扫描肿瘤轻度强化，瘤内有一些小液化区。肝动脉造影表现：肿瘤实体部分血流丰富，瘤体明显染色；巨大囊实性肿瘤表现为瘤内无血管，周围血管受压。结论 肝神经内分泌癌影像学表现为肝内不均质肿块，内部血流丰富，肿瘤明显染色；肿瘤巨大时可发生出血、坏死、囊性变；肿瘤易发生肝内转移；肿瘤预后差。胆囊神经内分泌癌表现为胆囊壁隆起性病变，无特异性征象。患者常有腹泻、腹痛症状。     

肝转移瘤高场MRI诊断

目的:探讨高场MRI在肝转移瘤(HMs)中的检出、诊断与鉴别诊断价值。方法:收集经临床、影像证实的HMs 43例,所有病例均进行高场MRI平扫和动脉期、门脉期、延迟期扫描,其中23例尚做螺旋CT平扫、动脉期、门脉期扫描,分析记录HMs螺旋CT、高场MRI平扫及多期增强扫描特征。结果:共计174枚瘤灶在MRI平扫上呈长T2长T1信号,动脉期122枚瘤灶不强化,门脉期174枚瘤灶均呈环状强化,延迟期108枚瘤灶呈向心性充填;23例79枚瘤灶螺旋CT平扫均呈低密度,动脉期49枚瘤灶不强化,30枚呈环状强化,门脉期73枚呈环状强化,4枚呈向心性充填;43例HMs高场MRI均准确诊断,螺旋CT漏检2例,误诊7例。结论:高场MRI对HMs的检出、诊断与鉴别诊断具重要价值,可作为HMs的首选检查方法。     

Detection of colorectal hepatic metastases using MnDPDP MR imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) alone and in combination

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of MnDPDP MR imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), alone and in combination, for detecting colorectal liver metastases in patients with suspected metastatic disease. Thirty-three consecutive patients with suspected colorectal liver metastases underwent MR imaging. Three image sets (MnDPDP, DWI and combined MnDPDP and DWI) were reviewed independently by two observers. Lesions were scored on a five-point scale for malignancy and the areas (Az) under the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated for each observer and image set. The sensitivity and specificity for lesion detection were calculated for each image set and compared. There were 83 metastases, 49 cysts and 1 haemangioma. Using the combined set resulted in the highest diagnostic accuracy for both observers (Az = 0.94 and 0.96), with improved averaged sensitivity of lesion detection compared with the DWI set (p = 0.01), and a trend towards improved sensitivity compared with the MnDPDP set (p = 0.06). There was no difference in the averaged specificity using any of the three image sets (p > 0.5). Combination of MnDPDP MR imaging and DWI resulted in the highest diagnostic accuracy and can increase sensitivity without loss in specificity.     

Diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis discontinued with liver tumors in patients with liver cirrhosis and tumors by contrast-enhanced US: A pilot study

Aims

We assessed the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients who had liver tumors.

Methods

Seventeen consecutive patients who had cirrhosis, liver tumors, and PVT were prospectively studied with CEUS. CEUS was performed at low mechanical index after intravenous administration of a second-generation contrast agent (SonoVue, Bracco, Milan, Italy). Presence or absence of thrombus enhancement on CEUS were considered diagnostic for malignant or benign PVT. Five patients also underwent percutaneous portal vein fine-needle biopsy under US guidance. All patients were followed-up. Shrinkage of the thrombus and/or recanalization of the vessels on CDUS during follow-up were considered definitive evidence of the benign nature of the thrombosis, whereas the enlargement of the thrombus, disruption of the vessel wall, and parenchymal infiltration over follow-up were considered consistent with malignancy.

Results

Follow-up showed signs of malignant thrombosis in 14 of 17 patients. CEUS showed early arterial enhancement of the PVT in 14 patients of 14 malignant PVT, 1 patient of 3 benign PVT and the absence of thrombus enhancement in 2 patients of 3 benign PVT. FNB confirmed the results for malignant PVT in four of five patients, for benign granulomatous inflammation PVT in one of five patients in which CEUS showed early arterial enhancement of the PVT. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy is 100%, 66.7% and 93.3% at diagnosis of malignant PVT using CEUS. In one patient with intrahepatic bile duct stone, CEUS were positive for malignant PVT, whereas FNB was negative (benign granulomatous inflammation PVT); follow-up examination confirmed benign PVT.

Conclusion

CEUS seems to be the pretty sensitive and specific test for diagnosing malignant portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis and tumors.