Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

<b>Background:</b> Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become the preferred method for many clinicians in evaluating focal liver lesions (FLLs) initially identified through standard ultrasound. However, in clinical practice, certain lesions may deviate from the typical enhancement pa...

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Main Authors: Tudor Voicu Moga, Raluca Lupusoru, Mirela Danila, Ana Maria Ghiuchici, Alina Popescu, Bogdan Miutescu, Iulia Ratiu, Calin Burciu, Teofana Bizerea-Moga, Anca Voron, Ioan Sporea, Roxana Sirli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/46
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author Tudor Voicu Moga
Raluca Lupusoru
Mirela Danila
Ana Maria Ghiuchici
Alina Popescu
Bogdan Miutescu
Iulia Ratiu
Calin Burciu
Teofana Bizerea-Moga
Anca Voron
Ioan Sporea
Roxana Sirli
author_facet Tudor Voicu Moga
Raluca Lupusoru
Mirela Danila
Ana Maria Ghiuchici
Alina Popescu
Bogdan Miutescu
Iulia Ratiu
Calin Burciu
Teofana Bizerea-Moga
Anca Voron
Ioan Sporea
Roxana Sirli
author_sort Tudor Voicu Moga
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become the preferred method for many clinicians in evaluating focal liver lesions (FLLs) initially identified through standard ultrasound. However, in clinical practice, certain lesions may deviate from the typical enhancement patterns outlined in EFSUMB guidelines. <b>Methods:</b> This study aims to assess FLLs that remained inconclusive or misdiagnosed after CEUS evaluation, spanning eight years of single-center experience. Following CEUS, all FLLs underwent secondary imaging (CT, MRI) or histopathological analysis for diagnostic confirmation. <b>Results:</b> From the initial 979 FLLs, 350 lesions (35.7%) were either inconclusive or misdiagnosed by CEUS, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases constituting the majority of these cases. The most frequent enhancement pattern in inconclusive lesions at CEUS was hyper-iso-iso. Factors such as advanced liver fibrosis, adenomas, and cholangiocarcinoma were significantly associated with higher rates of diagnostic inaccuracies. <b>Conclusions:</b> Advanced liver fibrosis, adenomas, and cholangiocarcinoma were significantly associated with increased diagnostic challenges, emphasizing the need for supplementary imaging techniques.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Diagnostics
spelling doaj-art-aacf91c0166643f294f8f99d4397b6b02025-01-10T13:16:33ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-12-011514610.3390/diagnostics15010046Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced UltrasoundTudor Voicu Moga0Raluca Lupusoru1Mirela Danila2Ana Maria Ghiuchici3Alina Popescu4Bogdan Miutescu5Iulia Ratiu6Calin Burciu7Teofana Bizerea-Moga8Anca Voron9Ioan Sporea10Roxana Sirli11Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaCenter of Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics-1st Pediatric Discipline, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCenter of Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania<b>Background:</b> Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become the preferred method for many clinicians in evaluating focal liver lesions (FLLs) initially identified through standard ultrasound. However, in clinical practice, certain lesions may deviate from the typical enhancement patterns outlined in EFSUMB guidelines. <b>Methods:</b> This study aims to assess FLLs that remained inconclusive or misdiagnosed after CEUS evaluation, spanning eight years of single-center experience. Following CEUS, all FLLs underwent secondary imaging (CT, MRI) or histopathological analysis for diagnostic confirmation. <b>Results:</b> From the initial 979 FLLs, 350 lesions (35.7%) were either inconclusive or misdiagnosed by CEUS, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases constituting the majority of these cases. The most frequent enhancement pattern in inconclusive lesions at CEUS was hyper-iso-iso. Factors such as advanced liver fibrosis, adenomas, and cholangiocarcinoma were significantly associated with higher rates of diagnostic inaccuracies. <b>Conclusions:</b> Advanced liver fibrosis, adenomas, and cholangiocarcinoma were significantly associated with increased diagnostic challenges, emphasizing the need for supplementary imaging techniques.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/46focal liver lesionscontrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis
spellingShingle Tudor Voicu Moga
Raluca Lupusoru
Mirela Danila
Ana Maria Ghiuchici
Alina Popescu
Bogdan Miutescu
Iulia Ratiu
Calin Burciu
Teofana Bizerea-Moga
Anca Voron
Ioan Sporea
Roxana Sirli
Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
Diagnostics
focal liver lesions
contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis
title Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
title_full Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
title_fullStr Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
title_full_unstemmed Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
title_short Challenges in Diagnosing Focal Liver Lesions Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
title_sort challenges in diagnosing focal liver lesions using contrast enhanced ultrasound
topic focal liver lesions
contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/1/46
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