Comparing Diagnostic Accuracy for Liver Tumours Between the Combination of CEUS and CEMRI Versus CECT and CEMRI

The liver cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resulted in more than 7,000 mortalities in Taiwan every year. HCC is unique regarding diagnosis because the clinical diagnosis without pathology proof is accepted. The dynamic image, including contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image (CEMRI) were recognized in many guidelines for diagnosing the HCC including Taiwan National Health insurance. Currently established guidelines endorse 3-phasic CT and MRI as first-line modalities. In contrast to the CT and MRI, ultrasound (US) with/without contrast is suggested by several societies as the most sufficient surveillance modality. However, the advantage of US in liver cirrhosis with regenerative nodules is only 32-65% in sensitivity.

The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has aroused more attentions regarding the rapidly improvement of contrast medium. In addition to Italian association for the study of the liver, the Japan society has documented CEUS as an integral part in the diagnosis algorism. Two phases, i.e. vascular phase and Kupffer phase, could be interpreted with second generation contrast agents, Sonazoid, for differentiating liver tumors. For liver tumor that failed to present washout phase in CECT or CEMRI, CEUS might be helpful because a tumor lack of contrast uptake in the Kupffer phase is favouring HCC. However, previous reports were confined to retrospective studies or small population, and more solid evidence is required to identify the diagnosis feasibility of CEUS with specific contrast agent.

In this study, the investigators conducted a prospective, single-center, open-label trial to compare the efficacy and safety of CEUS + CEMRI in characterizing HCC, in comparison with CECT + CEMRI. 60 patients with liver tumours no larger than 3cm in diameter will be enrolled, and tumour specimen will be obtained after imaging examination by tumour resection or biopsy. The primary endpoint is the sensitivity and specificity between the study groups, use the histology as reference diagnosis. The secondary endpoints include (1) the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS+CECT, CECT+CEMRI in differential diagnosis of liver tomours as malignant or benign, use the histology as reference diagnosis, (2) adverse effects, (3) vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate), and (4) laboratory values (the hematologic, renal and hepatic function change). Our exploratory endpoint is the detection rate of CEUS+CEMRI, CECT+CEMRI, use the histology as reference diagnosis.