Chinese Hepatolgy ›› 2025, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 462-466.

• Liver Tumor • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with serum SP70, AFP, and PIVKA-Ⅱ in the diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma

LI Xiao-yan1, ZHANG Jing-fang1, WANG Chun-ping1, ZHOU Ping-an2   

  1. 1. Department of Ultrasound, Luochuan County Hospital, Shaanxi 727400, China;
    2. Department of Ultrasound,Yan' an University Affiliated Hospital, Shanxi 716000, China
  • Received:2024-09-15 Online:2025-04-30 Published:2025-06-17
  • Contact: WANG Chun-ping, Email:wangcp2024@126.com

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Abstract: Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with tumor-specific protein 70 (SP70), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence Ⅱ (PIVKA-Ⅱ) in the diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Eighty patients diagnosed with early HCC in Luochuan County, People's Hospital from May 2018 to August 2024 were selected as the HCC group, and 80 patients with benign liver lesions were selected as the benign group. CEUS parameters were analyzed for both groups, and serum levels of SP70, AFP, and PIVKA-Ⅱ were measured. The sensitivity and specificity of these indicators in diagnosing early HCC were evaluated. Results In the HCC group, the proportions of patients with single lesions, unclear boundaries, irregular lesion shapes, and abundant blood supply were 85.00%, 28.75%, 25.00%, and 23.75%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the benign group (67.50%, 2.50%, 7.50%, and 12.50%, P<0.05). During the portal and delayed phases of CEUS, the proportions of patients with iso-enhancement or hypo-enhancement in the HCC group were 83.75% and 87.50%, respectively, also significantly higher than in the benign group (48.75% and 51.25%, P<0.05). In terms of serum markers, SP70, AFP, and PIVKA-Ⅱ levels in the HCC group were 11.23±4.58 ng/mL, 44.64±18.28 ng/mL, and 83.45±36.34 mAU/mL, respectively, which were higher than those of 8.68±3.74 ng/mL, 15.27±6.63 ng/mL, and 44.23±19.29 mAU/mL in the benign group (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity of CEUS, SP70, AFP, and PIVKA-Ⅱ for early HCC diagnosis was 75.0%, 41.2%, 93.8%, and 75.0%, and specificity was 77.5%, 92.5%, 91.2%, and 87.5%, with AUC values of 0.788, 0.658, 0.951, and 0.838, respectively. When CEUS was combined with serum levels of SP70, AFP, and PIVKA-Ⅱ, the sensitivity and specificity increased to 91.2% and 98.8%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.983. Conclusion CEUS combined with SP70, AFP, and PIVKA-Ⅱ detection exhibits high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of early HCC, which may facilitate early diagnosis and has potential for clinical application.

Key words: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, Tumor-specific protein 70, Alpha-fetoprotein, Prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence Ⅱ, Hepatocellular carcinoma