Nicola Flor MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sergio Serantoni MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cristiana Bonifacio MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Alessandro De Iuliis, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Francesco Sardanelli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gianpaolo Cornalba MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate CE-US of liver metastases compared with plain US (p-US), using contrast enhanced MDCT as a standard of reference.

Fifty-six patients (mean age 63.8yrs; range 34-90) with known diagnosis of primary cancer ( colon=27; breast=18; lung=6; kidney=2; bladder=1; adrenal glands=1; pancreas=1) were studied with US ( Esaote Esatune or Hitachi H21) before and after intravenous injection of 2.4 mL of microbubbles of sulphur hexafluoride (SonoVue, Bracco) flushed by 5 mL of saline solution. Within 3 weeks before/after US exam, MDCT (4-row Light Speed QX/1, General Eletric; unenhanced and portal venous phased; 110-130 mL of non-ionic contrast agent) was performed. Two independent radiologist read US and MDCT.

In 29 patients p-US, CE-US and MDTC were negative for metastases. In 7 patients both p-US, CE-US and MDCT were positive for metastases with complete concordance for location and number (metastases/patients, range 1-5). In 10 patients, CE-US demonstrated more lesions than p-US (additional metastases/patients, range 1-2), all of them confirmed by MDCT; 2 of these patients, entirely negative at p-US, changed into positive at CE-US and MDCT. In 7 patients, suspicious metastases at p-US were excluded at both CE-US and MDCT. Three patients, negative at both p-US and CE-US were positive at MDCT. On a patients basis, p-US showed a 75% sensitivity (15/20) and 81% specificity(29/36), CE-US 85% (17/20) and 100% (36/36). Non adverse reactions to the US contrast agent were observed.

CE-US showed a 10% gain in sensitivity and 19% gain in specificity if compared to p-US.

Flor, N, Serantoni, S, Bonifacio, C, De Iuliis, A, Sardanelli, F, Cornalba, G, Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound of Liver Metastases Using Contrast-enhanced Multidetector CT as Standard of Reference.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4417243.html