Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound vs. MRI for Liver Lesions
Study Overview
This study compares contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with MRI for identifying focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hepatocellular adenoma (HCA). MRI can be expensive and uncomfortable for patients, so we wanted to see if CEUS could provide similar results.
Trial Details
Approved by the institutional review board, this trial included 40 patients from 2018 to 2023. Each patient had liver lesions identified by MRI and underwent a single CEUS procedure. We used a special contrast agent (Lumason) to enhance the ultrasound images.
Results
Out of 59 lesions examined (27 FNHs and 32 HCAs), the accuracy of CEUS was close to that of MRI, especially for lesions 2 cm or larger:
- Sensitivity: 70.6% for FNH and 84.2% for HCA
- Specificity: 70.6% for FNH and 84.2% for HCA
- Accuracy: 81.5% for FNH and 86.8% for HCA
Interobserver agreement was fair overall but improved significantly for larger lesions.
Practical Solutions and Value
CEUS is a promising alternative to MRI for diagnosing FNH and HCA, especially for patients who cannot undergo MRI. This method is less invasive and more comfortable.
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