Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis with evidence from 1998 to 2016

Motion correction of 3D dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging without anatomical B-Mode images: Pilot evaluation in eight patients

BACKGROUND

Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) is highly susceptible to motion artifacts arising from patient movement, respiration, and operator handling and experience. Motion artifacts can be especially problematic in the context of perfusion quantification. In conventional 2D DCE-US, motion correction (MC) algorithms take advantage of accompanying side-by-side anatomical B-Mode images that contain time-stable features. However, current commercial models of 3D DCE-US do not provide side-by-side B-Mode images, which makes MC challenging.

PURPOSE

This work introduces a novel MC algorithm for 3D DCE-US and assesses its efficacy when handling clinical data sets.

METHODS

In brief, the algorithm uses a pyramidal approach whereby short temporal windows consisting of three consecutive frames are created to perform local registrations, which are then registered to a master reference derived from a weighted average of all frames. We applied the algorithm to imaging studies from eight patients with metastatic lesions in the liver and assessed improvements in original versus motion corrected 3D DCE-US cine using: (i) frame-to-frame volumetric overlap of segmented lesions, (ii) normalized correlation coefficient (NCC) between frames (similarity analysis), and (iii) sum of squared errors (SSE), root-mean-squared error (RMSE), and r-squared (R2) quality-of-fit from fitted time-intensity curves (TIC) extracted from a segmented lesion.

RESULTS

We noted improvements in frame-to-frame lesion overlap across all patients, from 68% ± 13% without correction to 83% ± 3% with MC (p = 0.023). Frame-to-frame similarity as assessed by NCC also improved on two different sets of time points from 0.694 ± 0.057 (original cine) to 0.862 ± 0.049 (corresponding MC cine) and 0.723 ± 0.066 to 0.886 ± 0.036 (p ≤ 0.001 for both). TIC analysis displayed a significant decrease in RMSE (p = 0.018) and a significant increase in R2 goodness-of-fit (p = 0.029) for the patient cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, results suggest decreases in 3D DCE-US motion after applying the proposed algorithm.

On-Site Diagnostic Ability of CEUS/CT/MRI for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (2019-2022): A Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVES

To compare the on-site diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), computed tomography (CECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (CEMRI) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) across diverse practice settings.

METHODS

Between May 2019 and April 2022, a total of 2085 patients with 2320 pathologically confirmed focal liver lesions (FLLs) were enrolled. Imaging reports were compared with results from pathology analysis. Diagnostic performance was analyzed in defined size, high-risk factors for HCC, and hospital volume categories.

RESULTS

Three images achieved similar diagnostic performance in classifying HCC from 16 types of FLLs, including HCC ≤2.0 cm. For HCC diagnosis at low-volume hospitals and HCC with high-risk factors, the accuracy and specificity of CEUS were comparable to CECT and CEMRI, while the sensitivity of CEUS (77.4 and 89.5%, respectively) was inferior to CEMRI (87.0 and 92.8%, respectively). The diagnostic accuracy of CEUS + CEMRI and CEUS + CECT increased by 7.8 and 6.2% for HCC ≤2.0 cm, 8.0 and 5.0% for HCC with high-risk factors, and 7.4 and 5.5% for HCC at low-volume hospitals, respectively, compared with CEMRI/CECT alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with CECT and CEMRI, CEUS provides adequate diagnostic performance in clinical first-line applications at high-volume hospitals. Moreover, a higher diagnostic performance for HCC is achieved by combining CEUS with CECT/CEMRI compared with any single imaging technique.

Challenges and Solutions in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Associated with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has gained attention in the last few years due to its increasing prevalence worldwide becoming a global epidemic. The increasing incidence of NAFLD and the concurrent increase in the number of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases at a global level is a matter of concern. HCC has several risk factors, of which NAFLD and its associated metabolic disturbances-type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and dyslipidemia-are of great interest due to their accelerating rise in incidence worldwide. There is a high amount of data derived from basic and clinical studies that reveal the molecular pathways that drive NAFLD-associated HCC. Based on these findings, new prevention, surveillance, and treatment strategies are emerging. However, current data on treatment modalities in NAFLD-associated HCC are still scarce, though the results from non-NAFLD HCC studies are promising and could provide a basis for a future research agenda to address NAFLD/NASH patients. Clinicians should carefully assess all the clinical and radiological parameters and establish a prognosis based on the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification and discuss in a multidisciplinary team the treatment strategy. The specific factors associated with NAFLD-associated HCC which can have a negative impact on survival even in patients with early HCC, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, should be taken into consideration. This review aims to discuss the latest recommendations regarding the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD-associated HCC and the remaining challenges.

Is Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Effective?

Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs primarily in patients with cirrhosis and is an important cause of cancer death. Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma every 6 months with ultrasound with or without alpha fetoprotein measurement is recommended by multiple professional societies. There are no randomized controlled trials in patients with cirrhosis documenting the effectiveness of screening in improving survival, however, making screening controversial. There are multiple retrospective and cohort studies, as well as pooled analyses that do show an association of screening with earlier stage at diagnosis, increased receipt of curative intent treatment, and improved overall survival. Though these studies are limited by lead and length time biases, they make compelling arguments in favor of screening. Additional research into barriers to receiving screening, barriers to receiving treatment, and the optimal screening modalities given the shift of cirrhosis etiology in the United States are needed to further improve patient outcomes.

Hematoma Disguised as Cancer

Hematomas are often associated with benign processes such as sport-related injuries, postsurgical complications, and medications such as blood thinners. Rarely, hematomas can occur spontaneously without any identifiable cause or recollection of an inciting event. Such events can lead to inaccurately diagnosing a patient, which could delay or alter treatment and worsen the patient's prognosis. This patient reported sudden-onset abdominal pain with radiation to her back and denied any recent medication use or trauma while at home. The case highlights the key radiographic findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound to eventually confirm an obscure case of hepatocellular carcinoma and help guide management.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs mostly in people with chronic liver disease. Worldwide, it ranks sixth in terms of incidence of cancer, and fourth in terms of cancer-related deaths. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is used as an add-on test to confirm the presence of focal liver lesions suspected as hepatocellular carcinoma after prior diagnostic tests such as abdominal ultrasound or measurement of alpha-foetoprotein, or both. According to guidelines, a single contrast-enhanced imaging investigation, with either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may show the typical hepatocellular carcinoma hallmarks in people with cirrhosis, which will be sufficient to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma. However, a significant number of hepatocellular carcinomas show atypical imaging features, and therefore, are missed at imaging. Dynamic CEUS images are obtained similarly to CT and MRI images. CEUS differentiates between arterial and portal venous phases, in which sonographic hepatocellular carcinoma hallmarks, such as arterial hyperenhancement and subsequent washout appearance, are investigated. The advantages of CEUS over CT and MRI include real-time imaging, use of contrast agents that do not contain iodine and are not nephrotoxic, and quick image acquisition. Despite the advantages, the use of CEUS in the diagnostic algorithm for HCC remains controversial, with disagreement on relevant guidelines. There is no clear evidence of the benefit of surveillance programmes in terms of overall survival as the conflicting results can be a consequence of an inaccurate detection, ineffective treatment, or both. Therefore, assessing the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS may clarify whether the absence of benefit could be related to underdiagnosis. Furthermore, an assessment of the accuracy of CEUS for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is needed for either diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma or ruling it out in people with chronic liver disease who are not included in surveillance programmes.

OBJECTIVES

1. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma of any size and at any stage in adults with chronic liver disease, in a surveillance programme or in a clinical setting. 2. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS for the diagnosis of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma in people with chronic liver disease and identify potential sources of heterogeneity in the results.

SEARCH METHODS

We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The last date of search was 5 November 2021.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults with chronic liver disease, with cross-sectional designs, using one of the acceptable reference standards, such as pathology of the explanted liver, and histology of resected or biopsied focal liver lesion with at least a six-month follow-up.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methods to screen studies, extract data, and assess the risk of bias and applicability concerns, using the QUADAS-2 checklist. We used the bivariate model and provided estimates of summary sensitivity and specificity. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using GRADE. We presented uncertainty-of-the-accuracy estimates using 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 23 studies with 6546 participants. Studies were published between 2001 and 2021. We judged all 23 studies at high-risk of bias in at least one domain, and 13/23 studies at high concern for applicability. Most studies used different reference standards to exclude the presence of the target condition. The time interval between the index test and the reference standard was rarely defined. We also had major concerns on their applicability due to the characteristics of the participants. - CEUS for hepatocellular carcinoma of any size and stage: sensitivity 77.8% (95% CI 69.4% to 84.4%) and specificity 93.8% (95% CI 89.1% to 96.6%) (23 studies, 6546 participants; very low-certainty evidence). - CEUS for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma: sensitivity 77.5% (95% CI 62.9% to 87.6%) and specificity 92.7% (95% CI 86.8% to 96.1%) (13 studies, 1257 participants; low-certainty evidence). The observed heterogeneity in the results remains unexplained. The sensitivity analyses, including only studies with clearly prespecified positivity criteria and only studies in which the reference standard results were interpreted with no knowledge of the results about the index test, showed no differences in the results.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found that by using CEUS, as an add-on test following abdominal ultrasound, to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma of any size and stage, 22% of people with hepatocellular carcinoma would be missed, and 6% of people without hepatocellular carcinoma would unnecessarily undergo further testing or inappropriate treatment. As to resectable hepatocellular carcinoma, we found that 23% of people with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma would incorrectly be unresected, while 8% of people without hepatocellular carcinoma would undergo further inappropriate testing or treatment. The uncertainty resulting from the high risk of bias of the included studies, heterogeneity, and imprecision of the results and concerns on their applicability limit our ability to draw confident conclusions.

Clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in early diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (≤ 2 cm)

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver malignancy. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) uses contrast microbubbles during ultrasound, allowing the detection and characterization of malignant focal liver lesions with much higher diagnostic accuracy than conventional ultrasound; however, there are few reports focusing on the pattern of enhancement of CEUS for the diagnosis of HCC smaller than 2 cm.

AIM

To investigate the clinical value of CEUS in the early detection of small HCC with high risk factors.

METHODS

A total of 395 patients with 632 nodules at high risk of HCC, who underwent regular follow-up at Xuhui Dahua Hospital from January 2007 to December 2021, were retrospectively examined. Conventional ultrasonography combined with CEUS was adopted to analyze the echo, size, location, and enhancement characteristics of benign and malignant nodules, as well as the enhancement methods for HCC with different diameters.

RESULTS

The follow-up rate and duration were 92.15% (364/395) and 51.28 ± 45.09 mo, respectively. Conventional ultrasonography combined with CEUS revealed 65 (11.80%) nodules with a follow-up diagnosis of HCC, 19 (3.45%) dysplastic nodules, and 467 (84.75%) benign cirrhotic hyperplastic nodules. Among 65 cases of confirmed HCC, 40 (61.54%) were transformed from hypoechoic nodules, 9 (13.85%) from hyperechoic nodules, and the remaining 16 (24.62%) from isoechoic nodules. Significant differences in CEUS characteristics were found among cirrhotic nodules, dysplastic nodules, and HCC nodules at each phase. Significant differences in the enhancement mode were observed between nodules ≤ 1 cm and those 1–2 cm. The smaller the HCC nodule, the later the contrast agent began to flush and the longer the duration of contrast enhancement.

CONCLUSION

Conventional ultrasonography combined with CEUS could identify small HCC and help monitor patients with an early diagnosis of HCC. Significant differences in the enhancement mode are noted between nodules ≤ 1 cm and those 1–2 cm.

Emerging drugs for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of liver related mortality. Cirrhosis of any etiology is the major risk factor although HCC can develop in its absence in patients with Hepatitis B and increasingly in those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. When detected at an early stage, curative options include surgical resection, liver transplantation and/or ablative therapies. Unfortunately, most cases of HCC are recognized at an advanced state when options are limited and non-curative. However new systemic therapies with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy have expanded therapeutic options in advanced HCC. Advances in systemic therapy have given patients with advanced HCC hope and prolonged their survival. Ongoing trials addressing different combination therapies with checkpoint inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) or anti-VEGF therapies are expected to further enhance the management of advanced HCC.

AREAS COVERED

We discuss recent data and ongoing research efforsts to improve the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with discussion of current and upcoming systemic therapy combining agents of different classes.

EXPERT OPINION

Sustemic therapy for HCC is in evolution. The inclusion of immunotherapy to systemic therapy has revolutionalized the field of HCC treatment. Identificantion of the appropriate combination and sequence of systemic therapy coupled with discovery of reliable HCC biomarkers will lead to improved survival and inidividulized HCC therapy.

Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma: current status and future perspectives for improvement

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a globally relevant medical problem. Fortunately, risk factors for this tumor have been identified, and surveillance protocols developed. Patients with liver cirrhosis have the highest risk of developing HCC and have historically been included in surveillance programs. Special categories have also emerged in recent years, especially patients with eradicated HCV infection or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Novel serum biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging protocols are currently being proposed to refine existing surveillance protocols.

AREAS COVERED

We discuss the rationale of surveillance programs for HCC and report the most recent recommendations from international guidelines about this topic. Gray areas, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the role of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma, are also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

Surveillance is recognized as a tool to favor early diagnosis of HCC, access to curative treatment, and increase survival, even if the supporting evidence is mainly based on observational studies. As new randomized clinical trials are difficult to propose, future challenges will include optimizing implementation in the primary care setting and a more personalized approach, balancing the opportunities and risks of overdiagnosis of novel techniques and biomarkers.

Evaluation of the health economic impact of initial diagnostic modality selection in patients suspected of having HCC in China and the USA

AIMS

To compare relative costs associated with the diagnostic pathways for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the US and China according to the initial imaging modality used. Gadoxetate disodium (ethoxylbenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) was compared to contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), extracellular contrast media enhanced-MRI (ECCM-MRI) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Decision tree models were developed to simulate the clinical pathway, based on local clinical guidelines, and validated by experts. Input data were derived from the literature (up to 31 December 2020) as well as from interviews with local experts.

RESULTS

The models showed that compared to alternative initial imaging modalities, EOB-MRI was associated with higher diagnostic accuracy (fewer false-positive and fewer false-negative results). Increasing proportionate use of EOB-MRI resulted in a cost offset per patient (excluding false-negative patients) in both the US (USD 337) and China (CNY 1,443), driven by reductions in scan costs and unnecessary treatment costs. The use of EOB-MRI was also associated with a shorter average waiting time for a final diagnosis and treatment decision for patients compared to MDCT, ECCM-MRI, and CEUS.

CONCLUSION

The findings of these models demonstrate that EOB-MRI is the most accurate and rapid imaging modality for the diagnosis of HCC in the US and China, resulting in cost offsets that may benefit the healthcare system.

Consensus on the secondary prevention of primary liver cancer

To standardize the effective prevention, surveillance, and diagnosis of primary liver cancer, the Chinese Society of Hepatology, Chinese Medical Association, invited clinical experts and methodologists to develop the Consensus on the Secondary Prevention of Primary Liver Cancer, which was based on the clinical and scientific advances on hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose is to provide a current basis for the prevention, surveillance, and early diagnosis of primary liver cancer in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Diagnostic role of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography versus conventional B-mode ultrasonography in cirrhotic patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study

Background

Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very important for the prognosis of patients. However, there are very few studies that compared the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and B-mode ultrasonography for early HCC in cirrhotic patients.

Methods

This retrospective study included cirrhotic patients, who were suspected of early HCC between January 2020 and June 2021. The diagnosis of patients was based on the pathology results of surgery or biopsy. Demographic and clinical characteristics of included patients were recorded. The diagnoses of suspected lesions using both types of ultrasonography were recorded, and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy of early HCC in cirrhotic patients were calculated.

Results

Eventually, 137 patients with solitary lesions in the liver were included in this study, including 89 patients diagnosed with HCC and 48 patients diagnosed with non-HCC. The median diameter of suspected lesions was 26 mm, and the median level of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was 37.2 ng/mL. When comparing the demographic and clinical characteristics of cirrhotic patients with HCC and non-HCC, it was found that patients with HCC had significantly higher levels of AFP than those with non-HCC (P=0.03). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of CEUS in early HCC were 73%, 93.8%, 95.6%, 65.2% and 80.3%, respectively. In CEUS, all of these parameters were much higher than those in B-mode ultrasonography, i.e., 64%, 75%, 82.6%, 52.9%, and 67.9%. It was also found that the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS was much higher than that of B-mode ultrasonography especially regarding lesions <20 mm. To further improve the sensitivity of CEUS in early HCC, AFP was combined with CEUS for the diagnosis of early HCC. As a result, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of CEUS combined with AFP level were 83.1%, 87.5%, 92.5%, 73.7%, and 84.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed that CEUS' diagnostic accuracy for early HCC in cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than that of B-mode ultrasonography. However, the sensitivity of CEUS needs to be improved further, and the combination of CEUS and AFP level may be a potential solution.

The Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma:: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to systematically evaluate the diagnostic ability of the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

We searched relevant studies from PubMed, Medline, and Embase database. After literature search, duplicate removal, and data extraction, we calculated and analyzed the pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, pooled odds ratios of diagnostic, pooled likelihood ratio (LR) of positive and negative, and area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, and F1 score to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEUS LI-RADS for HCC.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies and 6491 patients were included in this analysis. The pooled sensitivity and pooled specificity were 0.72 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.73) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.91-0.93), respectively. The positive LR was 8.02 (95% CI, 4.93-13.06) and the negative LR was 0.31 (95% CI, 0.27-0.37). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 27.91 (95% CI, 15.39-50.63). The overall AUC was 0.8406 and the accuracy was 0.77.

CONCLUSIONS

CEUS LI-RADS is an effective and promising method to diagnose HCC.

Current and Emerging Tools for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer‐related mortality worldwide. Early detection of HCC enables patients to avail curative therapies that can improve patient survival. Current international guidelines advocate for the enrollment of patients at high risk for HCC, like those with cirrhosis, in surveillance programs that perform ultrasound every 6 months. In recent years, many studies have further characterized the utility of established screening strategies and have introduced new promising tools for HCC surveillance. In this review, we provide an overview of the most promising new imaging modalities and biomarkers for the detection of HCC. We discuss the role of imaging tools like ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the early detection of HCC, and describe recent innovations which can potentially enhance their applicability, including contrast enhanced ultrasound, low‐dose CT scans, and abbreviated MRI. Next, we outline the data supporting the use of three circulating biomarkers (i.e., alpha‐fetoprotein [AFP], AFP lens culinaris agglutinin‐reactive fraction, and des‐gamma‐carboxy prothrombin) in HCC surveillance, and expand on multiple emerging liquid biopsy biomarkers, including methylated cell‐free DNA (cfDNA), cfDNA mutations, extracellular vesicles, and circulating tumor cells. These promising new imaging modalities and biomarkers have the potential to improve early detection, and thus improve survival, in patients with HCC.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in HCC diagnosis and assessment of tumor response to locoregional therapies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global problem constituting the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, thereby necessitating an accurate and cost-effective solution for managing care. Ultrasound is well poised to address this need due to its low cost, portability, safety, and excellent temporal resolution. The role of ultrasound for HCC screening has been well established and supported by multiple international guidelines. Similarly, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can be used for the characterization of focal liver lesions in high-risk populations, and standardized criteria for CEUS have been established by the American College of Radiology Liver Imaging Reporting & Data System (LI-RADS). Following HCC identification, CEUS can also be highly beneficial in treatment planning, delivery, and monitoring HCC response to locoregional therapies. Specific advantages of CEUS include providing real-time treatment guidance and improved diagnostic performance for the detection of residual tumor viability or recurrence, thereby identifying patients in need of retreatment substantially earlier than contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. This review provides a primer on ultrasound and CEUS for the screening and characterization of HCC, with an emphasis on assessing tumor response to locoregional therapies.

A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Health Economic Evaluations of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening Strategies

OBJECTIVES

Many economic evaluations of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screenings have been conducted; however, these vary substantially with regards to screening strategies, patient group, and setting. This review aims to report the current knowledge of the cost-effectiveness of screening and describe the published data.

METHODS

We conducted a search of biomedical and health economic databases up to July 2020. We included full and partial health economic studies if they evaluated the costs or outcomes of HCC screening strategies.

RESULTS

The review included 43 studies. Due to significant heterogeneity in key aspects across the studies, a narrative synthesis was conducted. Most studies reported using ultrasound or alpha fetoprotein as screening strategies. Screening intervals were mostly annual or biannual. Incidence, diagnostic performance, and health state utility values were the most critical parameters affecting the cost-effectiveness of screening. The majority of studies reported HCC screening to be cost-effective, with the biannual ultrasound + alpha fetoprotein standing out as the most cost-effective strategy. However, few studies considered the utilization rate, and none considered the diagnostic performance of ultrasound in the context of central adiposity. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were also evaluated, but its cost-effectiveness was still controversial.

CONCLUSIONS

Although many studies suggested HCC screening was cost-effective, substantial limitations of the quality of these studies means the results should be interpreted with caution. Future modeling studies should consider the impact of central adiposity on the precision of ultrasound, real-world utilization rates and projections of increased HCC incidence.

The diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for assessing hepatocellular carcinoma compared to histopathology; a retrospective single-center analysis of 119 patients1

BACKGROUND

HCC as the 6th most common tumor entity with the fourth highest mortality and an increasing prevalence especially due to today's lifestyle acquires a high attention in the clinical setting. Beside CECT and CEMRI, CEUS depicts a dynamic, low-risk and radiation free imaging method that finds its use mainly in screening and active surveillance programs.

PURPOSE

The aim of the retrospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEUS in correlation to pathologic findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2004 and 2018 a total number of 119 patients were included in this retrospective single-center study. Every patient underwent CEUS in addition to a native B-mode and Color-Doppler scan. After given informed consent SonoVue® (Bracco, Milan, Italy), a second-generation blood-pool agent, was used as contrast medium. Every examination was performed and interpreted by a single experienced radiologist (EFSUMB level 3). A low mechanical index (MI) of <0,2 was chosen to obtain a good imaging quality.

RESULTS

All 119 included patients received CEUS followed by a liver biopsy for inter-modality comparison. In correlation to the pathology results, CEUS showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 96,6%, a specificity of 63,9%, a PPV of 86,7% and a NPV of 88,5% by detecting liver lesions suspicious for HCC. According to the Cohen's Kappa coefficient (k = 0,659) CEUS shows a strong inter-modality agreement in comparison to the histopathological finding.

CONCLUSION

With a high sensitivity and a strong cross-modality comparability to histopathology, the CEUS is highly effective in the detection of suspicious HCC lesions.

Performance of Ultrasound Techniques and the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in the Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Global statistics show an increasing percentage of patients that develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NAFLD-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even in the absence of cirrhosis. In the present review, we analyzed the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography (US) in the non-invasive evaluation of NAFLD and NAFLD-related HCC, as well as possibilities of optimizing US diagnosis with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) assistance. To date, US is the first-line examination recommended in the screening of patients with clinical suspicion of NAFLD, as it is readily available and leads to a better disease-specific surveillance. However, the conventional US presents limitations that significantly hamper its applicability in quantifying NAFLD and accurately characterizing a given focal liver lesion (FLL). Ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) are an essential add-on to the conventional B-mode US and to the Doppler US that further empower this method, allowing the evaluation of the enhancement properties and the vascular architecture of FLLs, in comparison to the background parenchyma. The current paper also explores the new universe of AI and the various implications of deep learning algorithms in the evaluation of NAFLD and NAFLD-related HCC through US methods, concluding that it could potentially be a game changer for patient care.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (CEUS LI-RADS) for Differentiating Between Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Other Hepatic Malignancies in High-Risk Patients: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

 The American College of Radiology (ACR) contrast-enhanced ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system (CEUS LI-RADS), which includes diagnostic criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other hepatic malignancies (OM), is increasingly used in clinical practice. This study performed a meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS LI-RADS for differentiating between HCC and OM in high-risk patients.

METHODS

 PubMed, Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane (CENTRAL) were searched for relevant studies. All studies that reported the percentage of HCC and OM in the LI-RADS categories were included. Random-effects models were used to calculate the pooled sensitivity and specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve.

RESULTS

 Eight studies involving 4215 focal liver lesions were included in the final analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the LR-5 criteria for HCC were 0.71 (95 % CI, 0.69-0.72) and 0.88 (0.85-0.91), respectively, the DOR was 18.36 (7.41-45.52), and the area under the SROC curve (AUC) was 0.8128. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the LR-M criteria for OMs were 0.85 (0.81-0.88) and 0.86 (0.85-0.87), the DOR was 27.82 (11.83-65.40), respectively, and the SROC AUC was 0.9098.

CONCLUSION

 The CEUS LI-RADS can effectively distinguish HCC from other hepatic malignancy in high-risk patients based on LR-5 criteria and LR-M criteria. However, further studies are needed for validation due to the limited number of included studies and the potential heterogeneity among the included studies.

Diagnosis, Staging, and Patient Selection for Locoregional Therapy to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality and the only cancer for which the incidence and mortality are on the rise. Sensitive and specific screening and diagnostic approaches, robust staging regimens, multidisciplinary tumor boards, and patient/family education and engagement in the shared decision-making process help to identify a patient's optimal treatment options. Locoregional therapies have been the mainstay for treating intermediate-stage disease, but they are finding special applications for early and advanced disease. This review discusses the diagnosis of HCC, current accepted staging models, and treatment of HCC, with a focus on locoregional therapies.

Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC is highly heterogeneous, both within the tumor and among individuals, which is closely related to the HCC surveillance, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response. With the advances of next-generation sequencing, the genomic landscape of HCC has been identified which vastly improves our understanding of genetic and epigenetic changes and their interaction during HCC development. In particular, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, aberrant expression of coding and non-coding RNAs have been extensively explored and many of them are considered as biomarkers for HCC. Most recently, the gut microbiome has been proposed as potential non-invasive biomarkers for HCC diagnosis. In this review, we summarize the current development of HCC biomarkers studies and provide insights on further steps towards precision medicine of HCC.

Accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

After the introduction of the contrast-enhanced ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (CEUS LI-RADS), several studies have reported on its performance, but the reported data vary considerably. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the diagnostic performance of CEUS LI-RADS in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate the causes of study heterogeneity.

METHODS

Original studies published until May 30, 2020, investigating the diagnostic performance of CEUS LI-RADS were identified in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases. Study quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Meta-analytic summary sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of HCC were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model. Meta-regression analysis was performed to explore the causes of study heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Of the 105 articles screened, eight studies were finally analyzed (5428 hepatic observations). The summary sensitivity and specificity of CEUS LI-RADS category 5 (LR-5) for diagnosing HCC were 73% [95% confidence interval (CI) 65-79%; I² = 93%] and 95% (95% CI 91-97%; I² = 89%), respectively. Substantial study heterogeneity was noted in both sensitivity and specificity. Study heterogeneity was significantly associated with the proportion of cases of HCC and the type of reference standard (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CEUS LI-RADS had high pooled specificity for diagnosing HCC but suboptimal pooled sensitivity. Substantial study heterogeneity was found, which was significantly associated with the proportion of cases of HCC and the type of reference standard.

Role of imaging in management of hepatocellular carcinoma: surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment response

Imaging plays a notable role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment response assessment. Whereas HCC surveillance among at-risk patients, including those with cirrhosis, has traditionally been ultrasound-based, there are increasing data showing that this strategy is operator-dependent and has insufficient sensitivity when used alone. Several novel blood-based and imaging modalities are currently being evaluated to increase sensitivity for early HCC detection. Multi-phase computed tomography (CT) or contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be performed in patients with positive surveillance tests to confirm a diagnosis of HCC and perform cancer staging, as needed. HCC is a unique cancer in that most cases can be diagnosed radiographically without histological confirmation when demonstrating characteristic features such as arterial phase hyperenhancement and delayed phase washout. The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System offers a standardized nomenclature for reporting CT or MRI liver findings among at-risk patients. Finally, cross-sectional imaging plays a critical role for assessing response to any HCC therapy as well as monitoring for HCC recurrence in those who achieve complete response.

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography for Screening and Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a safe and noninvasive imaging technique that can characterize and evaluate liver lesions, and has been approved for this use in the Unites States since 2016. CEUS has been shown to be similar in accuracy to computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and offers several advantages in certain patient populations who have contraindications for CT or MRI. However, CEUS has inherent limitations and has not been widely employed for evaluation of HCC. Methods: We present three retrospective cases of liver lesions in patients with cirrhosis, who underwent screening for HCC using concurrent, well-timed CT and CEUS. Results: In these cases, the liver lesions were better visualized and then diagnosed as malignancy via CEUS, whereas the lesions were best appreciated on CT only in retrospect. Conclusions: In some cirrhotic patients, a focal lesion may be more easily identifiable via CEUS than on CT and thus accurately characterized, suggesting an important and complementary role of CEUS with CT or MRI. Further studies are indicated to support the use of CEUS for the diagnosis and characterization of liver lesions in screening patients at risk for developing HCC.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the characterization of portal vein thrombosis vs tumor-in-vein in HCC patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis. However, differentiation of thrombosis and tumor-in-vein (TIV) may be challenging. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an excellent method for detection of vascularization and could help in the distinction. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis for evaluating the diagnostic value of CEUS in differentiating between PVT and TIV in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched up to the 5th of May 2019. The study quality was assessed by QUADAS-2 tool. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated by the bivariate random effect model and hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curve was plotted.

RESULTS

Seven studies including 425 participants were analyzed after screening 986 articles searched from databases. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of CEUS in diagnosing TIV were 0.94 (95%CI, 0.89-0.97) and 0.99 (95%CI, 0.80-1.00), respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of SROC curve was 0.97 (95%CI, 0.95-0.98). The pooled sensitivity and AUC were consistent across all the subgroups of different subject numbers, country, study design, CEUS contrast agents, and diagnostic criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

CEUS is highly efficient in differentiating TIV from PVT and is an alternative or a substitute for CT and/or MRI.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019138847 KEY POINTS: • Characterization of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) vs tumor-in-vein (TIV) is critical for HCC staging. • CEUS has an excellent safety profile, provides a real-time analysis without any loss in accuracy compared with CT and MRI. • This meta-analysis demonstrates that contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a suitable method for the detection of PVT and distinction with TIV.

Current status of hepatocellular carcinoma detection: screening strategies and novel biomarkers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Delayed diagnosis is a major factor responsible for the poor prognosis of HCC. Several advances have been made in the field of liver imaging with the use of novel imaging contrasts, improving current imaging techniques with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), introduction of new technologies such as contrast liver ultrasound, and development of novel biomarkers with the goal of early detection of HCC and improving outcomes of patients with HCC. This review focuses on current surveillance strategies and development of biomarkers with the goal of early detection of HCC.

Comparison of Sonazoid and SonoVue in the Diagnosis of Focal Liver Lesions: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Sonazoid and SonoVue in subjects with focal liver lesions.

METHODS

The patients who had untreated focal solid liver lesions confirmed by B-mode ultrasonography were eligible for the study. The target lesion and whole liver were scanned by gray scale ultrasonography; then, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was performed, and the results were evaluated blindly. The main end point was accuracy improvement with postcontrast versus precontrast ultrasound examination for diagnosis of the target lesion of interest as malignant or benign against the reference standard.

RESULTS

There were 65 patients with 65 hepatic tumors enrolled in the study. The improvement of diagnostic accuracy was 0.30 in the Sonazoid group and 0.16 in the SonoVue group (95% confidence interval, -0.828-0.168; P = .24). Using 20% as the noninferiority margin, the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval (0.168) was less than 0.20. The number of lesions detected during the whole-liver scanning in the Sonazoid group was significantly more than that detected in the SonoVue group (P = .024).

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis value of Sonazoid is noninferior to SonoVue, and this new contrast agent can improves the whole-liver image quality.

Introduction to the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The Liver Imaging Reporting And Data System (LI-RADS) was created with the support of the American College of Radiology (ACR) to standardize the acquisition, interpretation, reporting, and data collection for imaging examinations in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A comprehensive and rigorous system developed by radiologists, hepatologists, pathologists, and surgeons, LI-RADS addresses a wide range of imaging contexts. Currently, 4 algorithms are available publicly on the ACR website: ultrasound for HCC surveillance, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for HCC diagnosis and tumor staging, contrast-enhanced ultrasound for HCC diagnosis, and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging for treatment response assessment. Each algorithm is supported by a decision tree, categorization table, lexicon, atlas, technical requirements, and reporting and management guidance. Category codes reflecting the relative probability of HCC and malignancy are assigned to imaging-detected liver observations, with emerging evidence suggesting that LI-RADS accurately stratifies HCC and malignancy probabilities. LI-RADS is an evolving system and has been updated and refined iteratively since 2011 based on scientific evidence, expert opinion, and user feedback, with input from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Organ Procurement Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing. Concurrent with its most recent update, LI-RADS was integrated into the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases HCC guidance released in 2018. We anticipate continued refinement of LI-RADS and progressive adoption by radiologists worldwide, with the eventual goal of culminating in a single unified system for international use.

Clinical significance of miRNA‑1 and its potential target gene network in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Previous studies demonstrated that miRNA-1 (miR-1) is downregulated in certain human cancer and serves a crucial role in the progression of cancer. However, there are only a few previous studies examining the association between miR-1 and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and the regulatory mechanism of miR-1 in LUSC remains unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the clinical significance and determined the potential molecular mechanism of miR-1 in LUSC. The expression of miR-1 and its clinical significance in LUSC was examined by conducting a meta-analysis of 12 studies using Stata 14, MetaDiSc1.4 and SPSS version 23. In addition, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the potential target genes of miR-1 gathered from Gene Expression Omnibus and ArrayExpress. Meta-analysis demonstrated that miR-1 was significantly downregulated in LUSC [standardized mean difference: −1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): −2.08, −0.81], and the area under the curve was 0.9096 (Q*=0.8416) with sensitivity of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.76) and specificity of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.86, 0.90). The pooled positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 4.93 (95% CI: 2.54, 9.55) and 0.24 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.54), respectively. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that miR-1 may be involved in the progression of LUSC via the ‘cell cycle’, ‘p53 signaling pathway’, ‘Fanconi anemia pathway’, ‘homologous recombination’, ‘glycine, serine and threonine metabolism’ and ‘oocyte meiosis’. In summary, miR-1 was significantly downregulated in LUSC, suggesting a novel and promising non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing LUSC, and miR-1 was involved in LUSC progression via a number of significant pathways.

Comparison of international guidelines for noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: 2018 update

The goal of this review is to present the similarities and differences among the latest guidelines for noninvasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS), Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), and Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) of Korea. In 2018, major guideline updates have been proposed by the AASLD, EASL and KLCA-NCC; AASLD newly incorporated LI-RADS into their HCC diagnostic algorithm. The AASLD and EASL guidelines now include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using hepatobiliary contrast media as a first-line diagnostic test in addition to dynamic computed tomography and MRI using extracellular contrast media and the KLCA-NCC and EASL guidelines also include contrast-enhanced ultrasound as a second-line diagnostic test. We will comprehensively review the HCC surveillance and diagnostic algorithms and compare and highlight key features for each guideline. We also address limitations of current systems for the noninvasive diagnosis of HCC.

Ultrasound Evaluation in Patients at Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In the context of chronic liver disease (CLD), sonographic features of hepatic steatosis, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension are discussed and examples are provided. The impact of CLD and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is introduced, providing the rationale for a robust HCC screening and surveillance program for at-risk patients. The American College of Radiology Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System algorithms for screening and surveillance by ultrasound and for the definitive diagnosis of HCC by contrast-enhanced ultrasound are explained, with imaging examples provided. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound technique, limitations, and pitfalls also are introduced.

Meta-analysis of the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the detection of vascular complications after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is increasingly used to identify vascular complications in patients after liver transplantation. The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS using all available data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

relevant studies published before February 2018 were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect and Web of Science. Pooled sensitivity and specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) were calculated to estimate the diagnostic performance of CEUS for vascular complications. Sensitivity analysis was performed that stratified studies according to age, study design and sample size in order to determine the influence of these factors on the overall effect. Meta-regression analyses were performed to examine the possible sources of heterogeneity. Quality assessment and publication bias of the included studies were also evaluated.

RESULTS

thirteen studies which consisted of 2,781 CEUS cases were included in the analysis. The pooled weighted estimates of sensitivity and specificity were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.84 to 0.95) and 1.00 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.00), the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 431.96 (95% CI, 164.60 to 1,133.59) and the area under the curve (AUC) of SROC was 0.9741. According to the sensitivity analysis, age, study design and sample size had an insignificant influence on the diagnostic performance of CEUS. The meta-regression analyses did not reveal a strong correlation between CEUS accuracy and study design, treatment time of patients and experience of the radiologists.

CONCLUSION

the results of our meta-analysis showed a high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the CEUS modality for the identification of vascular complications in patients after liver transplantation. Since this is the first meta-analysis investigating in this aspect, more evidence is required to validate the clinical utility of CEUS for the identification of vascular complications in patients with a transplanted liver.