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Background: Patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) are at high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, biannual surveillance is recommended. This large-scale multicenter study aimed to stratify the risk of HCC development in ACLD., Methods: From 3016 patients with ACLD screened in 17 European and Chinese centers, 2340 patients with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) determined using different techniques (two-dimensional shear-wave elastography [2D-SWE], transient elastography, and point shear-wave elastography) and with different disease severities were included. Cox regression was used to explore risk factors for HCC. We used these data to create an algorithm, named PLEASE, but referred to in this manuscript as "the algorithm"; the algorithm was validated in internal and two external cohorts across elastography techniques., Results: HCC developed in 127 (5.4%) patients during follow-up. LSM by 2D-SWE (hazard ratio: 2.28) was found to be associated with developing HCC, alongside age, sex, etiology, and platelet count (C-index: 0.8428). We thus established the algorithm with applicable cutoffs, assigning a maximum of six points: platelet count less than 150×10 9 /l, LSM greater than or equal to 15 kPa, age greater than or equal to 50 years, male sex, controlled/uncontrolled viral hepatitis, or presence of steatotic liver diseases. Within 2 years, with a median follow-up of 13.7 months, patients in the high-risk group (≥4 points) had an HCC incidence of 15.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.1% to 18.7%) compared with the low-risk group, at 1.7% (95% CI, 0.9% to 2.5%)., Conclusions: Our algorithm stratified patients into two groups: those at higher risk of developing HCC and those at lower risk. Our data provide equipoise to test the prospective utility of the algorithm with respect to clinical decisions about screening patients with ACLD for incident HCC. (Funded by the German Research Foundation and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03389152.).

Background and Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant public health issue, with an increasing incidence and prevalence and a high incidence-to-mortality ratio. The prognosis of HCC depends on two competing factors, tumor burden and underlying liver disease severity, encompassed in the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification. To assess HCC staging and the way staging affects eligibility for treatment at the time of the first diagnosis in Romania in the setting of opportunistic diagnosis, in the absence of a national HCC screening policy., Methods: Data regarding HCC staging, underlying liver disease, and eligibility for treatment at the time of diagnosis was analyzed using a prospectively maintained multicentric database, which included patients from the five largest tertiary care hepatology units in the country between June 2016 and February 2020., Results: A consecutive series of 477 patients was included. The distribution within BCLC classes was as follows: very early (0) 7.1%, early (A) 34.3%, intermediate (B) 19.4%, advanced (C) 14.2%, terminal (D) 24.7%. At the time of the diagnosis, 198 (41.5%) were eligible for a curative intent treatment, while 359 (75.2%) were eligible for a disease-modifying therapy. 228 patients (47.8%) had decompensated liver disease at the time of diagnosis, the most common decompensating event being ascites (78.1%)., Conclusions: A large proportion of HCC cases are diagnosed at the time of a decompensating event, severely restricting the therapeutic potential. Proactive diagnostic strategies should be implemented to improve the rate of actionable diagnosis.

Background and Objectives: Liver cancer poses a significant global health threat, ranking among the top three causes of cancer-related deaths. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often present with symptoms associated with neoplasms or unusual clinical features such as paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS), including hypoglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, thrombocytosis, and erythrocytosis. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and survival outcomes associated with PNS in HCC patients and assess each PNS's impact on patient survival. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of PNS clinical features and survival among consecutive HCC patients diagnosed at our department over seven years, comparing them with HCC patients without PNS. The study involved a retrospective data evaluation from 378 patients diagnosed with HCC between January 2016 and October 2023. Results: We obtained a PNS prevalence of 25.7%, with paraneoplastic hypercholesterolemia at 10.9%, hypoglycemia at 6.9%, erythrocytosis at 4.5%, and thrombocytosis at 3.4%. Patients with PNS tended to be younger and predominantly male. Multivariate analysis revealed a strong correlation between PNS and levels of alpha-fetoprotein and tumor size, with diabetes also showing a significant statistical association ( p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis based on specific paraneoplastic syndromes demonstrated shorter survival in patients with PNS, albeit without significant statistical differences, except for hypoglycemia ( p < 0.0001). Matched analysis indicated a shorter survival rate for patients with PNS, although no significant statistical differences were observed. Conclusions: PNS are frequently observed in HCC cases and are associated with unfavorable prognoses and decreased survival rates due to their correlation with increased tumor burdens. However, they do not independently predict poor survival. The impact of individual PNS on HCC prognosis varies.

Aims: to evaluate the accuracy of LR-5 category from the latest Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound algorithm (ACR CEUS LI-RADSv 2017) for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in a real-life cohort of high-risk patients., Material and Methods: We retrospectively re-analysed the CEUS studies of 464 focal liver lesions (FLL) in 382 patients at high-risk for HCC (liver cirrhosis of any aetiology, chronic B or C hepatitis with severe fibrosis) using the ACR CEUS LI-RADSv 2017 algorithm. CEUS LI-RADS categories used for the diagnosis of HCC were: CEUS LR-5 (definitely HCC) and CEUS LR-TIV (HCC with macrovascular invasion). Contrast-enhanced CT, contrast-enhanced MRI, or histology were used as diagnostic reference methods to evaluate the CEUS LI-RADS classification of the 464 lesions., Results: According to the reference method, the 464 lesions were classified as follows: 359 HCCs, 68 non-HCC-non-malignant lesions and 37 non-HCC malignant lesions. The diagnostic accuracy of LR-5 category for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was 76.9%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 71.9%, 94.3 %, 97.7% and 49.5%, respectively., Conclusions: LR-5 category from ACR CEUS LI-RADSv 2017 algorithm, has good sensitivity, excellent specificity, and PPV for the diagnosis of HCC. The HCC rate increases from LR-3 to LR-5.

The present, updated document describes the fourth iteration of recommendations for the hepatic use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound, first initiated in 2004 by the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. The previous updated editions of the guidelines reflected changes in the available contrast agents and updated the guidelines not only for hepatic but also for non-hepatic applications. The 2012 guideline requires updating as, previously, the differences in the contrast agents were not precisely described and the differences in contrast phases as well as handling were not clearly indicated. In addition, more evidence has been published for all contrast agents. The update also reflects the most recent developments in contrast agents, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and the extensive Asian experience, to produce a truly international perspective. These guidelines and recommendations provide general advice on the use of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) and are intended to create standard protocols for the use and administration of UCAs in liver applications on an international basis to improve the management of patients., (Copyright © 2020 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) improved the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs), but is an operatordependent method. The goal of this paper was to test a computer assisted diagnosis (CAD) prototype and to see its benefit in assisting a beginner in the evaluation of FLLs., Material and Method: Our cohort included 97 good quality CEUS videos[34% hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), 12.3% hypervascular metastases (HiperM), 11.3% hypovascular metastases (HipoM), 24.7% hemangiomas (HMG), 17.5% focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH)] that were used to develop a CAD prototype based on an algorithm that tested a binary decision based classifier. Two young medical doctors (1 year CEUS experience), two experts and the CAD prototype, reevaluated 50 FLLs CEUS videos (diagnosis of benign vs. malignant) first blinded to clinical data, in order to evaluate the diagnostic gap beginner vs. expert., Results: The CAD classifier managed a 75.2% overall (benign vs. malignant) correct classification rate. The overall classification rates for the evaluators, before and after clinical data were: first beginner-78%; 94%; second beginner-82%; 96%; first expert-94%; 100%; second expert-96%; 98%. For both beginners, the malignant vs. benign diagnosis significantly improved after knowing the clinical data (p=0.005; p=0,008). The expert was better than the beginner (p=0.04) and better than the CAD (p=0.001). CAD in addition to the beginner can reach the expert diagnosis., Conclusions: The most frequent lesions misdiagnosed at CEUS were FNH and HCC. The CAD prototype is a good comparing tool for a beginner operator that can be developed to assist the diagnosis. In order to increase the classification rate, the CAD system for FLL in CEUS must integrate the clinical data.

Objective: Hepatic (biliary) cystic tumor (HBCT) is a rare focal cystic liver lesion, which has been rarely described in the literature. In our current multicenter, retrospective study, we aimed to analyze contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features and its diagnostic performance in histologically proved HBCT., Material and Methods: Twenty-three patients with single HBCT were retrospectively analyzed. Histologically, 17 (73.9%) were benign hepatic (biliary) cystadenoma (HBCA), 6 (26.1%) were hepatic (biliary) cystadenocarcinoma (HBCAC). All CEUS examinations were assessed by two independent radiologists in consensus. Criteria of CEUS imaging evaluation included the contrast enhancement pattern of lesion (hypoenhancing, hyperenhancing, isoenhancing in comparison to the surrounding liver parenchyma) during the arterial, portal venous and late phases., Results: After injection of ultrasound contrast agents, most of the HBCTs (78.3%, 18/23) had typical honeycomb enhancement pattern of the cystic wall, septa or mural nodules. Comparing between HBCA and HBCAC, hyperenhancement of the honeycomb septa during the arterial phase was more common in HBCA (p = .047). However, hypoenhancement during the portal venous and late phases was the characteristic of HBCAC (p = .041)., Conclusions: The EFSUMB algorithm for CEUS for characterization of solid focal liver lesions is also applicable to HBCT. CEUS evaluation can avoid further diagnostic investigations or invasive biopsy procedure.

Aim: To analyze contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of histologically proven hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) in comparison to other multilocular benign focal liver lesions (FLL)., Methods: Twenty-five patients with histologically proven HEHE and 45 patients with histologically proven multilocular benign FLL were retrospectively reviewed. Four radiologists assessed the CEUS enhancement pattern in consensus., Results: HEHE manifested as a single (n = 3) or multinodular (n = 22) FLL. On CEUS, HEHE showed rim-like (18/25, 72%) or heterogeneous hyperenhancement (7/25, 28%) in the arterial phase and hypoenhancement (25/25, 100%) in the portal venous and late phases (PVLP), a sign of malignancy. Eighteen patients showed central unenhanced areas (18/25, 72%); in seven patients (7/25, 28%), more lesions were detected in the PVLP. In contrast, all patients with hemangioma and focal nodular hyperplasia showed hyperenhancement as the most distinctive feature (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: CEUS allows for characterization of unequivocal FLL. By analyzing the hypoenhancement in the PVLP, CEUS can determine the malignant nature of HEHE.

Background and Aim: Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been proven to be a reliable method for the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLL). The aim of this paper was to evaluate the performance of CEUS for the diagnosis of liver hemangiomas in a large cohort of patients., Material and Method: We performed a multicentre prospective study which included successive CEUS examinations from fourteen centers from Romania. CEUS examinations were performed in de novo FLL, using low mechanical index ultrasound, following an intravenous bolus of 2.4 ml SonoVue. CEUS was considered conclusive for hemangioma if a typical pattern was present following contrast (centripetal fill in during the arterial phase, hyperenhanced lesion during venous and late phases). In all cases a reference method was available (contrast CT or MRI or biopsy). The trial was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier NCT01329458)., Results: During February 2011 - May 2015, 1153 CEUS examinations were performed for the evaluation of de novo FLL. Out of the 1153 de novo FLL, 238 cases were diagnosed as hemangiomas by CEUS (typical enhancing pattern). Contrast CT/MRI and biopsy diagnosed additional 24 hemangiomas. From the 238 cases diagnosed as hemangiomas by CEUS, in 11 the final diagnosis was different. Considering contrast CT/MRI and biopsy as reference methods, CEUS had 90.4% sensitivity, 98.8% specificity, 95.4% positive predictive value, 97.4% negative predictive value, resulting in 96.9% diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of hemangiomas., Conclusion: CEUS is a sensitive and very specific method for the diagnosis of hemangiomas.

Purpose: To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for differentiating malignant from benign focal liver lesions (FLLs) and for diagnosing different FLL types., Material and Methods: CEUS performed in 14 Romanian centers was prospectively collected between February 2011 and June 2012. The inclusion criteria were: age > 18 years; patients diagnosed with 1 - 3 de novo FLLs on B-mode ultrasound; reference method (computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or biopsy) available; patient's informed consent. FLL lesions were characterized during CEUS according to the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology guidelines. For statistical analysis, indeterminate FLLs at CEUS were rated as false classifications., Results: A total number of 536 cases were included in the final analysis, 344 malignant lesions (64.2 %) and 192 benign lesions (35.8 %). The reference method was: CT/MRI - 379 cases (70.7 %), pathological exam - 150 cases (27.9 %) and aspiration of liver abscesses - 7 cases (1.4 %). CEUS was conclusive in 89.3 % and inconclusive in 10.7 % of cases. To differentiate between malignant and benign FLLs, CEUS had 85.7 % sensitivity, 85.9 % specificity, 91.6 % positive predictive value, 77.1 % negative predictive value and 85.8 % accuracy. The CEUS accuracy for differentiation between malignant and benign liver lesions was similar in tumors with diameter ≤ 2 cm and those with diameter > 2 cm., Conclusion: CEUS represents a useful method in clinical practice for differentiating between malignant and benign FLLs detected on standard ultrasonography, and the results of this study are in concordance with previous multicenter studies: DEGUM (Germany) and STIC (France)., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Liver cirrhosis is the major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All etiologic forms of liver cirrhosis may be complicated by HCC but the risk is higher in patients with hepatitis B or C viral infection. Patients at high risk for developing HCC should be included in surveillance programs. Groups at high risk are: all cirrhotic patients; non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced liver fibrosis (F3), non-cirrhotic HBV carriers with active hepatitis. Current guidelines issued by AASLD and EASL recommend surveillance among high-risk patients by ultrasound (with or without alpha-fetoprotein) every 6 months. The aim of ultrasound screening and surveillance is to detect HCC at an early stage, when it is amenable to curative therapy, to reduce mortality. For good results, ultrasound examination must be done by highly experienced personnel, with extensive experience in the field of hepatic ultrasound.

Aim: To present a large monocentric experience in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs) using Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS)., Method: A retrospective study was performed in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Timisoara, including 1100 patients with 1329 FLLs evaluated between September 2009 and January 2013. A CEUS examination was considered conclusive if the FLL respected the typical enhancement pattern as described in the EFSUMB Guidelines., Results: From the 1329 FLLs, CEUS was conclusive for a specific pathology in 1102 cases (82.9%). For the differentiation of benign/malignant lesions, CEUS reached a conclusive diagnosis in 1196 (90%) cases. The percentage of conclusive CEUS examinations was significantly higher in patients without chronic liver disease as compared with those with chronic hepatopathies: 87.3% vs. 74.4% (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: CEUS patterns of enhancement fell into clear cut specific diagnostic patterns in 83% of the FLLs discovered by US, and into clear cut benign versus malignant patterns in 90% of the cases. For this reason, we can strongly recommend CEUS as a first line imaging method to characterize FLLs found at US, at least in centers with a good experience in CEUS.

Background and Aim: Development of contrast specific ultrasound techniques and introduction of the second-generation ultrasound contrast agents have improved the ability of this technique in detecting and characterizing focal liver lesions (FLLs). The purpose of this study was to present the experience of four Romanian centers in the evaluation of FLLs by contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), in daily practice., Materials and Methods: We performed a multicentre retrospective study, including 1244 FLLs, evaluated by means of CEUS in four Romanian centers with extensive experience in ultrasound, during September 2009-December 2010., Results: This study included 1244 FLLs, both "de novo" (1056 cases) and pre-existing (such as hepatocellular carcinomas evaluated after percutaneous treatment to assess the treatment results). In 1046/1244 of cases (84.1%), CEUS showed a typical pattern of enhancement (according to the EFSUMB Guidelines 2008), thus being sufficient for a correct and final diagnosis, while in 198/1244 of cases (15.9%), other methods of diagnosis were required, such as contrast CT/MRI or biopsy. In our study, CEUS established the benign or malignant nature of lesions in 1139/1244 of cases (91.5%)., Conclusion: According to our results, CEUS could be the first imaging method of diagnosis for uncharacteristic FLLs detected by standard ultrasound, providing a correct classification in 84.1% of cases and a correct differentiation between benign/malignant lesions in 91.5% of cases. Thus, when faced with an uncharacteristic FLL on standard ultrasound, our local strategy is to perform CEUS as a first-line imaging investigation.

Background and Aim: Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has a well established place in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLL). The aim of this paper was to evaluate the usefulness of CEUS in the assessment of liver hemangiomas., Material and Method: We included in a prospective study all the CEUS examinations performed during a 13 months period for the evaluation of de novo FLL, using a Siemens Acuson S2000™ Ultrasound System, following an intravenous bolus of 2.4 ml SonoVue® CEUS was considered conclusive for hemangioma if a typical pattern was present following contrast (centripetal fill in during the arterial phase, hyperenhanced lesion during venous and late phases)., Results: During September 2009 - October 2010, 413 CEUS examinations were performed in our department for the evaluation of de novo FLL. Out of the 413 cases, based on standard ultrasound, 43 were suspected hemangiomas, 125 were uncharacteristic lesions and 245 were suspected for other types of lesions (metastases, focal nodular hyperplasias, hepatocellular carcinomas etc). Out of the 413 de novo FLL, 64 cases (15.5%) were diagnosed as hemangiomas by CEUS (typical CEUS pattern). MRI diagnosed 7 additional hemangiomas in inconclusive CEUS cases, so 90.1% (64/71) of the hemangiomas were diagnosed by CEUS alone. Out of the 125 uncharacteristic lesions on standard ultrasound, 29 cases were diagnosed after CEUS as hemangiomas. Thus, CEUS diagnosed additional 40.8% (29/71) hemangiomas as compared to standard ultrasound, without the need of more expensive imaging methods., Conclusion: CEUS is a reliable method for the diagnosis of hemangiomas, also allowing a precise characterization of FLL. This method diagnosed additional 40% hemangiomas in comparison with standard ultrasound (for atypical ultrasound hemangiomas) and finally, CEUS diagnosed correctly 90% of this type of lesions, all with typical enhancement pattern according to the EFSUMB guidelines.

Aim: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging method that can discriminate between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other liver lesions. The purpose of this study is to present our experience concerning the use of CEUS in the characterization of HCCs., Material and Method: We included in our study all the patients evaluated in our Department from September 2009 to October 2010, with focal liver lesions (FLLs) on abdominal ultrasound (US) that were diagnosed as HCCs after CEUS examination, also patients with chronic liver disease with focal liver lesions highly suspected to be HCCs but with an inconclusive pattern on CEUS. One hundred patients with 148 HCCs were included. The enhancement pattern of the nodules was evaluated according to the 2008 EFSUMB Guidelines. Nodules displaying arterial hyperenhancement with "washout" in the portal/venous phase on CEUS were considered diagnostic for HCC. Nodules considered indeterminate after CEUS were evaluated by contrast-enhanced CT or MRI for diagnosis., Results: Among the 100 patients included, 96 were patients with chronic liver disease and 4 were patients without known liver disease. 71 patients had a solitary nodule, 16 patients had two nodules and 13 patients had three or more nodules. 112 HCCs had a typical enhancement pattern and 36 nodules were considered indeterminate after CEUS and were sent to CT/ MRI for diagnosis., Conclusions: 75.7% of the studied liver nodules were diagnosed by CEUS as HCCs, thus CEUS is an easy method, convenient to perform, avoiding other expensive examinations.

Aim: to present the practice of two experienced centres concerning the use of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLL)., Material and Method: A prospective, bicentric study, between 09.2009-09.2010 was undertaken and 729 FLL (506-Center A, 223-Center B) were evaluated. A CEUS examination was considered conclusive, if the FLL had a typical enhancement pattern according to EFSUMB Guidelines., Results: From the 729 cases with FLL, 389 (53.4%) were patients without known and 340 (46.6%) with known chronic liver disease. CEUS was conclusive for the diagnosis in 597/729 cases (82%) and allowed the positive diagnosis of benign vs. malignant lesion in 662/729 (90.8%) FLL. For each center independently (Center A vs. Center B) the situation was as follows: conclusive for the diagnosis 390/506 (77.1%) vs 207/223 (92.8%) (p<0.0001), conclusive for the differentiation benign/malignant 449/506 (88.7%) vs. 213/223 (95.5%) (p=0.0032)., Conclusion: In our bicentric study, CEUS was conclusive for diagnosis in 82% of FLL and the benign or malignant character of a lesion was demonstrated in 90.8% of cases. Thus, when faced with an uncharacteristic FLL on standard ultrasound, our local strategy in both centers was to perform CEUS as a first-line investigation thus avoiding other expensive examinations.

Unlabelled: Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has a well established role for the evaluation of focal liver lesions (FLL). The AIM of our paper was to evaluate if CEUS is a cost-efficient method for the first line evaluation of FLL., Material and Method: We performed a prospective study that included all the CEUS evaluations performed in our Department during a 6 months period (September 2009-March 2010). CEUS evaluation was performed with a Siemens Acuson S2000TM Ultrasound System following an intravenous bolus injection of 2.4 ml SonoVue(R) (Bracco). A CEUS examination was considered conclusive if, following contrast, the FLL had a typical enhancement pattern(after EFSUMB Guidelines 2008), allowing its classification as hemangioma, FNH, adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, metastasis, fatty-free area, focal fatty infiltration. We compared the costs of a CEUS positive diagnosis, to the cost of contrast CT and/or contrast MRI positive diagnosis. We also included the additional costs of CT and/or MRI, if CEUS was not conclusive. The cost of CEUS was calculated as the cost of 1/2 vial of SonoVue + the cost of abdominal ultrasound (150 + 30 = 180 RON). The costs of contrast CT scan and MRI were 285 and 650 RON respectively (mean costs practiced in Timisoara)., Results: In our study were included 316 FLL: 163 (51.6 %) in patients without hepatitis and 153 (48.4 %) in patients with chronic hepatopathies (in 133 cases liver cirrhosis and in 20 cases chronic hepatitis). CEUS was conclusive in 250 (79.1%) of the 316 cases, the cost for the evaluation of these patients being 45,000 RON. For the other 66 patients, the diagnosis cost will include the cost of CEUS + the cost of contrast CT: 30,690 RON. If contrast MRI was used for the differential diagnosis, the cost would be 54,780 RON. So the total cost of diagnosing 316 FLL would be 75,690 RON or 99,780 RON. If contrast CT would be used as the first line diagnosis for the 316 FLL, the cost would be 90,060 RON, by CEUS saving 14,370 RON, or 45.5 RON/lesion (using contrast CT for the differential diagnosis). If contrast MRI would be used as the first line diagnosis, the cost would be 205,400 RON, by CEUS saving 105,620 RON, or 334.2 RON/lesion (using contrast MRI for the differential diagnosis)., Conclusion: CEUS is a cost-efficient method as a first line diagnosis of FLL as compared to first line contrast-CT or first-line MRI.

Aim: Focal liver lesions (FLLs) are quite frequently discovered in daily practice at routine ultrasound. The aim of our study is to present a single centre experience concerning the use of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of FLL and to find when one can avoid using other expensive imaging modalities such as contrast enhanced CT or MRI., Method: We performed a prospective, single centre study during September 2009 - April 2010, and we evaluated 379 FLLs. A CEUS examination was considered conclusive if the FLL had a typical enhancement pattern according to the EFSUMB guidelines., Results: From the 379 cases with FLL, 198 (52.2%) were patients without known liver disease and 181 (47.8%) with known chronic liver disease (156 had cirrhosis, 25 chronic hepatitis); in 296/379 cases (78.1%) CEUS was conclusive. CEUS allowed the positive diagnosis of benign vs. malignant lesion in 261/294 (88.8%) de novo FLLs (CEUS performed for the first time), while in 33 (11.2%) cases it was inconclusive and could not differentiate between benign or malignant lesions. The CEUS results included 129 (49.4%) benign lesions and 132 (50.6%) malignant., Conclusion: CEUS was conclusive in approximately 80% of the FLLs and the benign or malignant character of a lesion was demonstrated in about 90% of cases. Thus, when faced with an uncharacteristic FLL on standard ultrasound examination, our local strategy is to perform CEUS as a first-line investigation, thus avoiding other expensive examinations.

Liver metastases are the most frequent malignancies of the liver. The grayscale sonographic appearance of metastases varies: they can be hypoechoic, hyperechoic, they can present a peripheral halo, they can have an infiltrative or cystic appearance. On contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), in the arterial phase, liver metastases can be hyperenhancing (hypervascular ones) or hypoenhancing (hypovascular ones). All liver metastases present wash-out in the portal and late phases, a typical enhancement pattern. CEUS sensitivity is superior to standard ultrasound for the diagnosis of liver metastases being similar to the one of contrast CT.

Liver cirrhosis is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, hence the need to screen those patients by means of liver ultrasound every 6 months. The differential diagnosis between a regenerative nodule, a dysplastic one and hepatocellular carcinoma is made based on a contrast imaging method (CEUS, MRI or CT) as they all have comparative sensitivities.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of Percutaneous Ethanol Injection Therapy (PEIT) for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma in a series of Romanian patients, and to compare it with previous studies., Material and Method: We retrospectively evaluated 88 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by PEIT. Multiple sessions of PEIT were performed to treat a single nodule of 2-10 cm in diameter. The Child-Pugh classification was used for evaluating the severity of LC and the Okuda and Barcelona scores for HCC. The efficacy of PEIT was assessed by CT or MRI one month after the therapy. The patients' survival after PEIT was calculated starting from the first PEIT procedure until the moment of death or the end of study (2000-2005). We analyzed the main factors which influenced the survival of the treated patients., Results: The global survival was 38.07+/-3.97 months, longer in patients with Child-Pugh A class, than in Child-Pugh B class (Log Rank 0.04). Patients with HCC less than 3 cm in diameter survived significantly longer than patients with tumors larger than 5 cm (Log Rank 0.007). Also, survival was better in the Barcelona A stage than in the Barcelona B and C stages (Log Rank 0.002) and in patients with alpha-fetoprotein less than 200 ng/l (Log Rank 0.002)., Conclusion: The main factors which influenced the survival of patients treated by PEIT were: the size of the HCC, the Child-Pugh class, the Barcelona stage and the level of alpha-fetoprotein at the time of initiation of therapy.