Analysis of the difference between solitary necrotic nodule of the liver and single metastatic liver cancer in contrast-enhanced ultrasound

Abstract

Abstract: Objective Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to investigate the difference of diagnostic performance between solitary necrotic nodule of the liver (SNNL) and single metastatic liver cancer (SMHC).Methods The patients pathologically diagnosed SNNL or SMHC by ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy or operation, who underwent CEUS for liver during hospitalization in the second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College and West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2014 to December 2018 were enrolled. The measurement data were expressed as (±s), analyzed by t-test. And the counting data were expressed as absolute numbers, analyzed by chi-square test. Results A total of 31 patients were enrolled in the study, including 14 males and 17 females, with an average age of (52.6±7.9) years. There were 6 patients with SNNL and 25 patients with SMHC. The average age of patients with SNNL was significantly lower than that of patients with SMHC [(43.8±7.2) years, (59.7±11.2) years, P<0.05]. In SNNL group, there were 5 cases with clear lesion boundary and 1 case with fuzzy lesion boundary. In SMHC group, there were 8 cases with clear lesion boundary and 17 cases with fuzzy lesion boundary. There was significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.05). In arterial phase, the thickness of the highly-enhanced peripheral ring was between 1.1 and 4.8 mm, with an average of (2.4±0.8) mm in SNNL group, and was between 3.3 and 9.2 mm, with an average of (5.1±1.3) mm in SMHC group. There was significant difference in the thickness of the highly-enhanced peripheral ring between the 2 groups (P<0.05). In SNNL group, there was no significant difference between area without enhancement in delayed and arterial phases [(6.1±4.2) cm, (8.0±6.5) cm, P>0.05]. However, in SMHC group, there was significant difference between area without enhancement in delayed and arterial phases [(6.3±2.9) cm, (2.8±3.6) cm, P<0.05].Conclusion CEUS is helpful to distinguish SNNL from SMHC, with differences in the thickness of highly-enhanced ring around the lesion in arterial phase and the range of non-enhancement area in delayed phase.

Key words: Solitary necrotic nodule of the liver, Single metastatic liver cancer, Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, SonoVue contrast agent

LI Jing, ZHANG Ming-zhi, LIU Jia-kai, SHI Bo, LUO Li. Analysis of the difference between solitary necrotic nodule of the liver and single metastatic liver cancer in contrast-enhanced ultrasound[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2020, 25(5): 483-485.

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