Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose To evaluate the role of CEUS in the characterization of abdominal lesions compared to CT and MRI and whether it could be “problem-solving” when CT and/or MRI are inconclusive or contraindicated. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 39 patients (22 males; mean age: 64 years) with one or more abdominal focal lesions (total: 41; mean diameter: 2.9 cm) who underwent CEUS, had already undergone CT/MRI without a definitive diagnosis or had not undergone them due to contraindications. The frequency, out of the total lesions included, in which CEUS was problem-solving, confirmatory or inconclusive was evaluated. Results CEUS proved to be problem-solving for 20/41 (48.8%) lesions, confirmatory for 17/41 (41.5%) lesions and inconclusive for 4/41 (9.7%) lesions. Including problem-solving and confirmatory diagnosis, CEUS correctly identified 24/27 (88.9%) liver lesions, 11/11 (100%) kidney lesions, a gallbladder and a pancreatic lesion, while it did not provide useful information for 4/41 (9.7%) lesions, specifically three liver lesions and a testicular one. Conclusions CEUS is a promising technique when CT and/or MRI are inconclusive or contraindicated and to increase the radiologist’s diagnostic confidence.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,190
OpenAlex ID: W4401708384