Vito Cantisani MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Luisa Coletta MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ugo D'Ambrosio, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Giovanni De Filippis, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Paolo Ricci MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Roberto Passariello MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare low-mechanical index contrast enhanced US, baseline US and 64-slice-CT in the detection of hepatic metastases from colorectal tumors.

From February to December 2007, 220 patients with breast tumors with suspected hepatic lesions studied by US, CEUS and 64-slice-CT, were evaluated by two independent readers. Intraoperative ultrasonography (n=90) or a CT and/or MRI follow-up up for at least 6 months (n=130) was considered the gold standard. McNemar test was employed

At patient-by-patients analysis CEUS improved US sensitivity for readers 1 and 2 from 67.4% and 72.6-% to 93.4% and 95.8%, respectively (p<0.05). For both readers there was no significant difference for sensitivity between CEUS and CT. At lesion-by-lesion analysis, CEUS improved US sensitivity for readers 1 and 2, from 60.4% and 64.9% to 85.3% and 92.8%, respectively (p <.001). For readers 1 and 2 the specificity increased from 50% and 60% and to 76.7% and 84% respectively; for both readers there were no significant differences between CEUS and CT. Contrast-enhanced US was more accurate than baseline US, especially for small metastases (p<0.001) with an increase of sensitivity from 29.1%-35% to 63.3%-76.6%.

CEUS is a reproducible tool, with not significant interobserver variability, significantly more accurate than US and highly comparable to 64-slice spiral CT in the detection of liver metastases from breast cancer.

CEUS is  significantly more accurate than US and highly comparable to 64-slice spiral CT in the detection of liver metastases.

Cantisani, V, Coletta, L, D'Ambrosio, U, De Filippis, G, Ricci, P, Passariello, R, Detection of Liver Metatases in Patients with Breast Cancer: May CEUS Be Considered a First-line Examination? Diagnostic Performance of Radiologists with Different Experience in Prospective Evaluation of US, CEUS, and Multidetector-CT.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6018303.html