Washout appearance of hepatocellular carcinomas using standardized contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) including an extended late phase observation - Real-world data from the prospective multicentre DEGUM study.
Barbara Meitner-Schellhaas, Daniel Jesper, Rüdiger Stephan Goertz, Sebastian Zundler, Deike Strobel
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引用次数: 1
Abstract
Background: Non-invasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is based on the combination of arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and subsequent late (>60 seconds) and mild contrast washout (WO). Whereas APHE is seen in the majority of HCC, wash-out pattern may vary in onset and intensity. In some HCC lesions, even no washout is seen at all.
Objective: Our prospective multicentre DEGUM HCC CEUS study aimed at identifying typical and atypical washout appearance of HCC in a real-life setting.
Methods: High-risked patients for HCC with focal liver lesions upon B-mode ultrasound were recruited prospectively. In a multicentre real-life setting, a standardised CEUS examination including an extended late phase up to 6 minutes was performed. CEUS patterns of HCC were recorded, and onset and intensity of washout appearance were assessed with respect to patient and tumour characteristics. Histological findings served as reference standard.
Results: In 230/316 HCC (72.8%), a CEUS pattern of APHE followed by WO was observed. In 158 cases (68.7%), WO was typical (onset > 60 seconds, mild intensity). 72 cases (31.3%) showed marked and / or early WO, whereas in 41 HCCs (13%), APHE was followed by sustained isoenhancement.Atypical WO upon CEUS was associated with macroinvasion of the liver vessels, portal vein thrombosis and diffuse growth pattern, but not tumour size and histological grading.
Conclusions: In a prospective multicentre real-life setting, APHE is followed by atypical washout appearance or no washout at all in almost half of the HCCs with APHE. The examiner has to bear in mind that in spite of a characteristic APHE in HCCs, washout appearance can be atypical in CEUS, especially in HCCs with macrovascular invasion or diffuse growth pattern.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, a peer-reviewed international scientific journal, serves as an aid to understanding the flow properties of blood and the relationship to normal and abnormal physiology. The rapidly expanding science of hemorheology concerns blood, its components and the blood vessels with which blood interacts. It includes perihemorheology, i.e., the rheology of fluid and structures in the perivascular and interstitial spaces as well as the lymphatic system. The clinical aspects include pathogenesis, symptomatology and diagnostic methods, and the fields of prophylaxis and therapy in all branches of medicine and surgery, pharmacology and drug research.
The endeavour of the Editors-in-Chief and publishers of Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation is to bring together contributions from those working in various fields related to blood flow all over the world. The editors of Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation are from those countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and America where appreciable work in clinical hemorheology and microcirculation is being carried out. Each editor takes responsibility to decide on the acceptance of a manuscript. He is required to have the manuscript appraised by two referees and may be one of them himself. The executive editorial office, to which the manuscripts have been submitted, is responsible for rapid handling of the reviewing process.
Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation accepts original papers, brief communications, mini-reports and letters to the Editors-in-Chief. Review articles, providing general views and new insights into related subjects, are regularly invited by the Editors-in-Chief. Proceedings of international and national conferences on clinical hemorheology (in original form or as abstracts) complete the range of editorial features.