Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography combined with contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in detection of recurrent lesions in HCC patients treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) compared with Compute Tomography (CT).
Methods: One hundred and seventy-three patients with HCC treated with curative RFA were enrolled in this study. All patients received both CEUS with SonoVue and CT at regular intervals. Nodules with contrast enhancement during the arterial phase (hypervascular) on CEUS were diagnosed as malignant. Biopsy and pathological confirmation or enlargement during follow-up were regarded to be the reference standard.
Results: Altogether 102 hypervascular nodules were detected in 50 patients. Of them, 102 nodules in 41 patients were confirmed as malignant. The other nodules were confirmed as benign including 14 regenerative nodules, 3 abnormal perfusion, 2 vascular malformation, 1 hemangioma and 1 vessel cross-section. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rate for CEUS in the detection of recurrent nodules were 85.2% (69/81), 38.1% (8/21) and 75.5% (77/102). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rate for CT were 85.2% (69/81), 80.1% (17/21) and 84.3% (86/102). There was no statistical significance between the two method (X2=2.473, P=0.116).
Conclusion: CEUS was helpful to detect recurrent nodules in HCC patients treated with RFA, comparable with CT.
Keywords: contrast enhanced ultrasonography; hepatocellular carcinoma, radiofrequency ablation, recurrence