A non-invasive predictive model based on multimodality ultrasonography images to differentiate malignant from benign focal liver lesions

Abstract We have developed a non-invasive predictive nomogram model that combines image features from Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (SCEUS) and Sound touch elastography (STE) with clinical features for accurate differentiation of malignant from benign focal liver lesions (FLLs). This study ultimately encompassed 262 patients with FLLs from the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, covering the period from March 2020 to April 2023, and divided them into training set (n = 183) and test set (n = 79). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent indicators and develop a predictive model based on image features from SCEUS, STE, and clinical features. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve was determined to estimate the diagnostic performance of the nomogram with CEUS LI-RADS, and STE values. The C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were further used for validation. Multivariate and LASSO logistic regression analyses identified that age, ALT, arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), enhancement level in the Kupffer phase, and Emean by STE were valuable predictors to distinguish malignant from benign lesions. The nomogram achieved AUCs of 0.988 and 0.978 in the training and test sets, respectively, outperforming the CEUS LI-RADS (0.754 and 0.824) and STE (0.909 and 0.923) alone. The C-index and calibration curve demonstrated that the nomogram offers high diagnostic accuracy with predicted values consistent with actual values. DCA indicated that the nomogram could increase the net benefit for patients. The predictive nomogram innovatively combining SCEUS, STE, and clinical features can effectively improve the diagnostic performance for focal liver lesions, which may help with individualized diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice.