Value Of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography In The Qualitative Diagnosis Of Focal Liver Lesion

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the qualitative diagnosis of focal liver lesions(FLL) by observing various kinds of manifestations of FLLs using CEUS.MethodThe results of conventional US and CEUS of250patients with a total of258FLLs were analyzed retrospectively, differentiated benign lesions from malignant ones by both techniques and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value respectively. By making contrast with conventional US, we explored the using value of CEUS in the qualitative diagnosis of FLL.ResultOf258FLLs, there were162malignant lesions and96benign ones. Malignant lesions were made up of130hepatocellular carcinomas,21metastatic tumors,10primary cholangiocellular carcinomas,1carcinoid; benign lesions consisted of43hepatic hemangiomas,19cirrhosis nodules,13inflammatory lesions,13focal nodular hyperplasias,3coagulation necrotic lesions,2Inflammatory pseudotumor,1angioleiomyolipoma,1Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor,1localized fatty infiltration. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of conventional US in qualitative diagnosis of FLL are91.4%,56.3%,78.3%,77.9%,79.4%respectively; while the corresponding data of CEUS are95.7%,90.6%,93.8%,94.5%,92.6%. By analysis of statistics, the specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CEUS are higher than conventional US (P<0.05), while the sensitivity are not statistically significant (P>0.05).ConclusionIn contrast with conventional US, CEUS could significantly en hance the specificity and accuracy of diagnosis in FLLs and values high in the qualitative diagnosis of this group of diseases.