Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography features of hepatobiliary neoplasms in cats

Use of New Ultrasonography Methods for Detecting Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats: A Review

The aim of this literature review was to present the novel imaging modalities elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. We provided an overview of the concepts and applications of each technique for the investigation of neoplastic and metastatic tumors in dogs and cats. Studies on elastography are based on the elasticity and deformation of the evaluated tissue. The information obtained from the different types of elastography can aid in the detection and differentiation of malignant and benign structures. Descriptions of elastography studies in several organs and tissue in veterinary medicine reported that, in general, malignant tumors tend to be more rigid and, therefore, less deformable than benign lesions or in comparison to the healthy parenchyma. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is based on the intravenous injection of contrast media constituted by microbubbles. This imaging modality can be performed in nonsedated animals and provides information on the tissue perfusion, allowing the investigation of macro- and micro-circulation. Studies on different organs and tissues were performed in dogs and cats and revealed a tendency of malignant tumors to present faster transit of the contrast media (time to wash-in, peak and wash-out). These advanced techniques can be associated with other imaging modalities, aiding important information to the well-established exams of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography. They can be used as screening tests, potentially representing an alternative to the invasive sampling methods required for cytological and histopathological analysis.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound features of adrenal lesions in dogs

BACKGROUND

The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of adrenal lesions are poorly reported in veterinary literature.

METHODS

Qualitative and quantitative B-mode ultrasound and CEUS features of 186 benign (adenoma) and malignant (adenocarcinoma and pheochromocytoma) adrenal lesions were evaluated.

RESULTS

Adenocarcinomas (n = 72) and pheochromocytomas (n = 32) had mixed echogenicity with B-mode, and a non-homogeneous aspect with a diffused or peripheral enhancement pattern, hypoperfused areas, intralesional microcirculation and non-homogeneous wash-out with CEUS. Adenomas (n = 82) had mixed echogenicity, isoechogenicity or hypoechogenicity with B-mode, and a homogeneous or non-homogeneous aspect with a diffused enhancement pattern, hypoperfused areas, intralesional microcirculation and homogeneous wash-out with CEUS. With CEUS, a non-homogeneous aspect and the presence of hypoperfused areas and intralesional microcirculation can be used to distinguish between malignant (adenocarcinoma and pheochromocytoma) and benign (adenoma) adrenal lesions.

LIMITATIONS

Lesions were characterised only by means of cytology.

CONCLUSIONS

CEUS examination is a valuable tool for distinction between benign and malignant adrenal lesions and can potentially differentiate pheochromocytomas from adenocarcinomas and adenomas. However, cytology and histology are necessary to obtain the final diagnosis.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound features of focal pancreatic lesions in cats

A large overlap in the ultrasound (US) features of focal pancreatic lesions (FPLs) in cats is reported. Furthermore, only a small number of studies describing the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features of FPLs in cats have been conducted today. The aim of this study is to describe the B-mode US and CEUS features of FPLs in cats. Ninety-eight cats cytologically diagnosed with FPL were included. The lesions were classified as adenocarcinoma (n = 40), lymphoma (n = 11), nodular hyperplasia (n = 17), other benign lesion (OBL) (n = 20), cyst (n = 4) or other malignant lesion (OML) (n = 6). Several qualitative and quantitative B-mode and CEUS features were described in each case. OMLs and cysts were not included in the statistical analysis. A decision tree to classify the lesions based on their B-mode and CEUS features was developed. The overall accuracy of the cross-validation of the decision tree was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63–0.83). The developed decision tree had a very high sensitivity and specificity for nodular hyperplasia (1 and 0.94, respectively) as well as good sensitivity and specificity for both adenocarcinomas (0.85 and 0.77, respectively) and OBLs also (0.70 and 0.93, respectively). The algorithm was unable to detect any specific feature for classifying lymphomas, and almost all the lymphomas were classified as adenocarcinomas. The combination between CEUS and B-mode US is very accurate in the classification of some FPLs, especially nodular hyperplasia and adenocarcinomas. Cytopathology and or histopathology is still a fundamental step FPL diagnostic workflow.

Preoperative evaluation and influencing factors of sentinel lymph node detection for early breast cancer with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: What matters

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) is important in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the preoperative evaluation for SLN and potentially influencing factors, to provide evidence to the management of breast cancer.Patients with breast cancer who treated in our hospital from May 2018 to May 2020 were selected. All patients underwent CEUS examination to find SLN and judged whether the lymph node had cancer metastasis. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CEUS in predicting SLN, and its differences in pathological diagnosis results and related influencing factors were also analyzed.A total of 108 patients with breast cancer were included. And a total of 248 SLNs were detected. The sensitivity of CEUS to the preoperative evaluation of SLN was 84.67%, the specificity was 81.14%, the positive predictive value was 76.08%, and the negative predictive value was 89.27%, the positive likelihood ratio was 4.06, and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.14. The area under the curve of the preoperative evaluation of SLN in CEUS examination was 0.813 (95% confidence interval: 0.765-0.911), and there was significant difference in the size of SLNs between SLN-negative and SLN-positive groups (P = .043).Preoperative CEUS has good predictive value for the SLN detection in patients with breast cancer, and it is worthy of clinical application.

B-Mode and Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography Features of Gastric Inflammatory and Neoplastic Diseases in Dogs

Simple Summary

Canine gastric disorders are common in veterinary clinical practice and among these neoplasms require rapid identification and characterization. Standard ultrasonography is the imaging modality of choice for gastric wall assessment. The aim of this prospective study is to describe the specific B-mode and contrast enhanced ultrasound features of normal, inflammatory, and neoplastic gastric diseases in dogs. Standard and contrast enhanced ultrasound of the stomach were performed in anesthetized dogs with or without gastric disorders. Gastric wall qualitative and quantitative parameters were evaluated. A total of 41 dogs were included: 6 healthy as the control group; 9 gastritis; 8 adenocarcinoma; 8 alimentary lymphoma; 4 leiomyosarcoma; 2 gastrointestinal stromal tumor; 2 leiomyoma; 1 undifferentiated sarcoma; 1 metastatic gastric hemangiosarcoma. Gastric tumors appear as a marked thickening with absent layers definition and possible regional lymphadenopathy and steatitis while gastritis generally shows no/mild thickening and no other alterations on standard ultrasound. During contrast—enhanced ultrasonography, neoplasms show a higher and faster wash in if compared to that of gastritis. B-mode and contrast enhanced ultrasound assessment may be useful in the evaluation of canine gastric disorders for the distinction between gastritis and gastric neoplasms, even if there are no specific aspects able to discriminate between different tumors types.

Abstract

Canine gastric disorders are common in veterinary clinical practice and among these neoplasms require rapid identification and characterization. Standard ultrasound (US) is the imaging modality of choice for gastric wall assessment. The aim of this prospective study is to describe the specific B-mode and contrast enhanced US (CEUS) features of normal, inflammatory, and neoplastic gastric wall in dogs. B-mode US and CEUS of the stomach were performed in anesthetized dogs with or without gastric disorders. Gastric wall qualitative and quantitative parameters were evaluated on B-mode US and CEUS examination. A total of 41 dogs were included: 6 healthy (HEA) as the control group; 9 gastritis (INF); 8 adenocarcinoma (AC); 8 alimentary lymphoma (AL); 4 leiomyosarcoma (LEIS); 2 gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST); 2 leiomyoma; 1 undifferentiated sarcoma; 1 metastatic gastric hemangiosarcoma. Gastric tumors appear as a marked wall thickness with absent layers definition and possible regional lymphadenopathy (AC and AL) and steatitis (AC) while gastritis generally shows no/mild thickening and no other alterations on B-mode US. On CEUS, neoplasm shows a higher and faster wash in if compared to that of gastritis. B-mode and CEUS assessment may be useful in the evaluation of canine gastric disorders in the distinction between gastritis and gastric neoplasms, even if there are no specific features able to discriminate between the different tumor histotypes.

B-Mode and Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography Features of Gastric Inflammatory and Neoplastic Diseases in Cats

Simple Summary

Alimentary lymphoma is the most common neoplasm of the feline gastrointestinal tract. In most cases, standard ultrasonography may not be able to discriminate between a neoplastic and inflammatory infiltrate at this level. The aim of this prospective study is to establish the value of conventional ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasonography in describing specific features of normal, inflammatory, and neoplastic gastric diseases in feline species. A total of 29 cats were included in the study: six healthy cats as the control group; nine with gastric inflammation; three with low-grade alimentary lymphoma; 10 with high grade alimentary lymphoma. High-grade lymphoma usually appears as a severe wall thickening with absent layer definition, regional lymphadenopathy and local steatitis on a conventional ultrasound and shows a high-contrast uptake and a homogeneous enhancement with comb teeth-like vessels on contrast-enhanced ultrasound, while gastric inflammation and low-grade alimentary lymphoma showed a large overlap on both of those two ultrasonographic techniques. Diagnostic accuracy and cut-off value were calculated and found to be relevant for thickness (3.8 mm) for inflammation vs. low-grade lymphoma and “benign” vs. “malignant” as well as peak enhancement (34.87 dB) for “benign” vs. “malignant”. Thickness and peak enhancement can be useful parameters in the characterization of gastric infiltrates in cats.

Abstract

Alimentary lymphoma (AL) is the most common malignancy of the feline gastrointestinal tract and may cause variable mild to severe alteration of the gastric wall on ultrasonography (US) that can be very similar to those caused by inflammation (INF). The aim of this prospective study is to establish the value of B-mode and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) in describing specific features of normal, inflammatory, and neoplastic gastric diseases in feline species. B-mode US and CEUS of the stomach were performed in anesthetized cats with or without gastric disorders. Gastric wall qualitative and quantitative parameters were evaluated on B-mode US and CEUS examination. A total of 29 cats were included: six healthy (HEA) cats as the control group; nine INF; three low-grade lymphoma (LGAL); 10 high-grade lymphoma (HGAL). On B-mode US, there were significant differences in thickness, the wall’s layer definition and echogenicity between HGAL and all the other groups (<0.001). For CEUS, statistical differences between groups were found in the following: HGAL vs. HEA, HGAL vs. INF; HGAL vs. LGAL; INF vs. HEA. Diagnostic accuracy (AUC) and cut-off value were calculated and found to be significant for thickness (3.8 mm) for INF vs. LGAL (AUC > 0.70) and “benign” vs. “malignant” (AUC > 0.90) as well as peak enhancement (34.87 dB) for “benign” vs. “malignant” (AUC > 0.70). INF and LGAL showed an overlap of qualitative and quantitative parameters both on B-mode and CEUS, while HGAL usually appears as a severe wall thickening with absent layer definition, high-contrast uptake, a specific enhancement pattern, regional lymphadenopathy and local steatitis. Thickness and peak enhancement can be useful parameters in the characterization of gastric infiltrates in cats.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound features of malignant focal liver masses in dogs

A total of 185 cases (150 retrospectively and 35 prospectively) of malignant liver masses were collected. In the retrospectively collected cases hyperenhancement during wash-in was the most common feature in HCCs but there was a high percentage of cases showing no enhancement or hypo/isoenhancement. ICCs displayed a large variety of contrast enhancement patterns and, although statically significant differences between ICCs and HCCs were evident, no clear distinction between these two pathologies was possible based only on their CEUS appearance. Sarcomas displayed all the possible degrees of wash-in enhancement with non-enhancing being the most common appearance. Metastases displayed all the possible contrast-enhancement patterns, with the most common being hyperenhancement in the wash-in phase followed by hypoenhancement in the wash-out phase. A decision tree was developed based on the features of the retrospectively selected cases. Based on the developed decision tree 27/35 prospectively collected cases were correctly classified. Even if some significant differences among groups were evident, all the histotypes displayed all the possible patterns of contrast enhancement, and, therefore, the differentiation of liver masses in dogs based only on their CEUS features is not feasible and, therefore, cytology or histopathology is required.