Can contrast-enhanced ultrasonography r substitute CT scan in postoperative renal tumor imaging?

Abstract

Introduction/Purpose: Among its many applications, contrast- enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is used with very good results in oncology imaging to evaluate the effect of several therapeutic interventional radiology techniques. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of CEUS in postoperative renal tumor imaging. Material and Method: The study group consisted of 17 consecutive patients (11 males and 6 females, aged between 71 and 87) who underwent palliative embolization or chemoembolization of renal tumors between January 2008 and December 2017. All patients underwent preoperative imaging with CEUS and CT scan and they were followed postoperatively with CEUS and CT scan for up to 24 months after initial intervention. The ultrasound and CT operators were blind to each other’s findings. Results: CEUS proved to be an effective means of monitoring both arterial embolism and RFA of renal tumors with comparable findings with CT and could be an alternative technique to CT and MRI.