Purpose: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and 64-slice multidetector-computed tomography (MDCT) in the detection of liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).
Materials and Methods: From September 2004 to December 2008, 271 consecutive patients with primary CRC were included in this study (146 males and 125 females, with a mean age of 67.4 years, range: 34-91 years). Patients with benign tumours, diverticulitis and stent treatment were not included. The study was approved by the local ethical committee. All patients signed the informed consent form and underwent combined liver ultrasonography and CEUS using 2.4 ml Sonovue iv. Time from injection to arrival time in the hepatic vein (ATHV) was noted. Contrast enhanced 64-slice MDCT in the portal phase was performed and interpreted blindly. In all patients intraoperative ultrasound was used as gold standard. Additional follow-up, MRI or fine-needle biopsy was performed on all suspicious lesions or if there was any inconsistency in the results. When liver resection was performed, the pathological examination contributed to the gold standard.
Results: Liver metastases were detected in 22 patients (8%). Both CEUS and MDCT had sensitivity of 86%. Specificity of CEUS was 97% and MDCT 96%. In patients with and without liver metastases ATHV was 19.8 sec. and 23.3 sec., respectively, p< 0.05.
Conclusion: CEUS showed a sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of MDCT. In this study, we could also observe that ATHV was shorter in the metastatic group than in patients without liver metastases.