A Pilot Study on Diagnostic Performance of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography for Detection of Early Cervical Cancer

Abstract

In this cohort study of 49 women with all stages of cervical cancer and 21 healthy controls, we compared contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) filling pattern and semi-quantitative parameters in the two groups. Participants were examined with conventional grayscale and power Doppler ultrasound (US) followed by CEUS, using a 2.5 mL bolus of intravenous contrast agent. CEUS video clips were analyzed with regard to contrast distribution (focal or global) and semi-quantitative parameters. Focal contrast distribution was found in 3% (1/32) of the women with no tumor versus 89% (34/38) of women with histologically detectable tumor. A semi-quantitative analysis showed that the amount of contrast over a period of the whole tumor (area under the curve [AUC[ 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87–1.0), and the maximal intensity area (AUC 0.94, 95% CI 0.84–1.0) could accurately distinguish tumors from healthy tissue. In conclusion, the CEUS parameters differ significantly between tumors and healthy cervical tissue.