Usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound using perfluorobutanecontaining microbubbles as a planning for percutaneous biopsies of focal hepatic lesions: a prospective feasibility study.

Abstract

To determine whether contrast-enhanced US using perfluorobutane-containing microbubbles (SEUS) would behelpful for planning a hepatic biopsy. This prospective study included 40 patients who planned toundergo hepatic biopsy for focal hepatic lesions. All patients underwent B-mode US followed by SEUS. The radiologist evaluatedthe number of detected lesions, presence of necrosis, conspicuity of target lesion and technical feasibility using 4-pointscale. Technical failure and occurrence of change of the target were also assessed. Computer tomography (CT) or magneticresonance (MR) images were the reference techniques. The mean number of lesions detected on CT and MR imageswas 6.5±8.4. In 20 (50%) of 40 patients, more focal lesions were detected on SEUS. Targeted lesion was changed in sixpatients (15%) on SEUS. Mean number of detected lesions on SEUS was significantly higher comparing with B-US (5.1±6.2vs. 2.8±3.8, p<0.001). Conspicuity of the targeted lesion was improved in 67.5% (27 of 40) on SEUS and significantly morevisualized than B-US (3.6±0.8 vs. 2.8±0.9, p<0.001). In 7 more patients the necrosis within the lesion was visualized (17.5%)using SEUS. The technical feasibility on SEUS was significantly higher than B-US (2.3±1.0 vs. 3.3±0.9, p<0.001). Technicalfailure was observed in only one patient (2.5%). SEUS is a helpful technique for planning the hepatic biopsyin terms of detection, improving lesion conspicuity, tumor viable portion assessment and consequently higher operator confidence,compared with B-US.