François Tranquart MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Aurore Bleuzen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Juliette Tchuenbou, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cecile Huang-Wei, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Monica Olar MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess the value and cost-effectiveness of real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound using Sonovue® (Bracco Imaging SpA, Italy) and Cadence Contrast Pulse Sequencing® (CPS, Siemens-Acuson, USA) in the characterisation of focal liver lesions.

218 consecutive patients (117 men ; 62 +/- 11 yrs, 101 females ; 40 +/- 25 yrs) were scanned for the detection of liver lesions related or not to primary cancer. In case of detected lesion, real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was done after Sonovue® injection (1.2 or 2.4 ml) with dedicated non-linear imaging software CPS. Diagnosis criteria were those reported in 2004 European Consensus Conference. Final diagnosis was obtained by reference imaging modality i.e. (MRI or CT-scan) for 147 patients or confirmed by the follow-up or biopsy.

CEUS was considered as not fully informative for 4 patients (steatosis). Concerning benign lesions, CEUS was concordant with reference imaging for FNH (14 lesions), adenomas (10 lesions) and hemangiomas (39). For two hemangiomas with size lower than 10 mm, CEUS suspected liver metastases. Concerning hepatocellular carcinomas ( 38 lesions), CEUS allowed the positive diagnosis for all detected lesions by conventional ultrasound. For liver metastases, the diagnosis was made in all cases by CEUS. Finally in terms of characterization, complete agreement between CEUS and reference modality was observed in 136 patients. For detected lesions by conventional ultrasound, the accuracy of CEUS for characterization of focal liver lesions was 96 %. This could save more cost-effective imaging methods in 26%.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound using CPS and Sonovue® allows characterization of focal liver lesions with high accuracy and thus can be integrated as a reference method in diagnostic algorithms with a marked decrease in cost-diagnosis ratio.

Tranquart, F, Bleuzen, A, Tchuenbou, J, Huang-Wei, C, Olar, M, Characterization of Focal Liver Lesions Using Cadence Contrast Pulse Sequencing® and Sonovue®.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4409427.html