The use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the characterisation of focal liver lesions.

PURPOSE: To determine the potential application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the characterisation of focal liver lesions encountered in radiological practice at a district general hospital.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 68 sequential patients undergoing contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of liver. All patients were referred for CEUS following identification of 1 or more focal liver lesions on conventional ultrasound or CT imaging. After baseline US examination (Acuson), a bolus of 1.0-2.4 ml of SonoVue (Bracco, UK) was administered intravenously. CEUS images were obtained during arterial, portal venous and delayed phases. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 6 months. The CEUS diagnosis was compared to that indicated by other imaging modalities, histopathology, and clinical follow up.

RESULTS: CEUS correctly identified malignant liver lesions in 19 patients, with the final diagnosis confirmed by histopathology in 5 cases and clinico-radiological follow up in 14 cases. 47 patients were correctly identified with benign liver lesions on CEUS imaging, with all these cases confirmed on clinico-radiological follow up. In the detection of malignancy, the sensitivity was 95.0% and the specificity was 97.9%.

CONCLUSIONS: In our experience to date, contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging is highly accurate in characterising malignant and benign focal liver lesions. It therefore has significant potential for utilisation in most general radiology departments.