Liver Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Improves Detection of Liver Metastases in Patients with Pancreatic or Periampullary Cancer

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2015 Dec;41(12):3063-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2015.06.019. Epub 2015 Oct 1.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide a diagnostic performance evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in detecting liver metastases in patients with suspected of pancreatic or periampullary cancer. Computed tomography (CT) is often insufficient for detection of liver metastases, but their presence plays a crucial role in the choice of therapy. Eighty-nine patients with suspected pancreatic or periampullary cancer were included in this prospective study with retrospective analysis. Patients underwent an abdominal CT and CEUS. Fifteen patients had liver metastases. The CT sensitivity was 73.3% (11/15), the specificity 93.2% (69/74), the positive predictive value (PPV) 68.8% (11/16) and the negative predictive value (NPV) 94.6% (69/73). Based on CEUS, the sensitivity was 80% (12/15), specificity 98.6% (73/74), PPV 92.3% (12/13) and NPV 96.1% (73/76). CEUS improved characterization of liver lesions in patients with suspected pancreatic or periampullary cancer compared with CT. CEUS can better detect benign liver lesions and distinguish false-positive or indeterminate CT results.

Keywords: CEUS; CT; Detection; Liver metastases; Pancreatic cancer; SonoVue.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ampulla of Vater / pathology
  • Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Contrast Media*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement*
  • Liver / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Contrast Media