Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in Focal Liver Lesions (FLL) with inconclusive findings on cross-sectional imaging

Abstract

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been used as an additional imaging technique in order to evaluate focal liver lesions. CEUS is easy and fast to perform, overcomes the limitations of B-mode US.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in focal liver lesions (FLL) with unclear findings on computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, 146 patients with at least one FLL underwent additional CEUS of the liver to clarify inconclusive cross-sectional imaging findings. Ultrasonography was performed using B-mode imaging and CEUS after injection of sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles (second-generation contrast agent) within two months after ceMRI or ceCT and interpreted by an experienced radiologist (EFSUMB level 3). Histopathological reports, long-term follow-up or clinical course served as reference standard.

Results: Thirty-eight of the 146 patients had malignant and 108 benign FLL. Overall, CEUS had 92% sensitivity (95% -CI, 79-97) and 98% specificity (95% -CI, 93-99) with an AUC of 0.95 in correctly characterizing the lesion as malignant or benign. Sensitivity increased to 98% (95% -CI, 96-100) for benign lesions and decreased to 92% (95% -CI, 78-98) for malignant lesions. CEUS showed the highest diagnostical accuracy in lesion <1 cm with an AUC of 1.000, while the lowest accuracy was achieved in lesions >2 cm with an AUC of 0.924 due to a decreasing specificity of 86% (95% -CI, 87-100).

Conclusion: CEUS correctly distinguished malignant from benign FLL in cases with inconclusive cross-sectional imaging findings and achieved high levels of diagnostic accuracy. CEUS has added diagnostic value especially in small lesions ≤1 cm while specificity remains limited in larger lesions.

Keywords: CEUS; contrast-enhanced ultrasound; focal liver lesions; liver ultrasound; sonography.