A comparison between the contrast-enhanced ultrasound manifestations of inflammatory liver lesions and primary hepatocellular carcinoma and analysis of the factors affecting clearance time

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To analyze the differences of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) manifestations between liver inflammatory lesions and primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC), as well as the influencing factors of clearance time. Methods Between June 2017 and June 2022, 30 patients with hepatic inflammatory lesions and 50 patients with PHC were diagnosed with pathology in Chengdu Medical College Second Affiliated Hospital. The CEU manifestations and quantitative CEU parameters of the two diseases were compared, and the value of quantitative CEU parameters in the differential diagnosis of hepatic inflammatory lesions and PHC was analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results The proportion of irregular arterial phase enhancement, unclear boundaries, and low portal phase enhancement in liver inflammatory lesions was 60.0%, 80.0%, and 80.0%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant compared to PHC (16.0%, 6.0%, and 40.0%) (P<0.05). The descending time, average passage time, and initial clearance time of liver inflammatory lesions were (31.7 ± 3.4) s, (18.2 ± 2.1) s, and (63.4 ± 7.1) s, respectively, the differences were statistically significant when compared to those of (46.1 ± 5.2) s, (34.3 ± 3.7) s, and (35.1 ± 3.8) s in PHC patients (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis results show that the descent time, average passage time, and start clearance time have high value in the differential diagnosis of liver inflammatory lesions and PHC. Conclusion CEU examination has certain value in differential diagnosis of liver inflammatory lesions and PHC. Quantitative analysis of CEU can objectively display the blood flow perfusion characteristics of liver inflammatory lesions and PHC, thereby elucidating the associated factors for their difference in clearance times.

Key words: Hepatic inflammatory lesions, Primary hepatocellular carcinoma, Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, Clearance time

LI Kai, SHI Bo, ZHANG Jing. A comparison between the contrast-enhanced ultrasound manifestations of inflammatory liver lesions and primary hepatocellular carcinoma and analysis of the factors affecting clearance time[J]. Chinese Hepatolgy, 2024, 29(10): 1209-1213.

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