Artificial intelligence(AI)is revolutionizing medical imaging,particularly in chronic liver diseases assessment.AI technologies,including machine learning and deep learning,are increasingly integrated with multiparame...Artificial intelligence(AI)is revolutionizing medical imaging,particularly in chronic liver diseases assessment.AI technologies,including machine learning and deep learning,are increasingly integrated with multiparametric ultrasound(US)techniques to provide more accurate,objective,and non-invasive evaluations of liver fibrosis and steatosis.Analyzing large datasets from US images,AI enhances diagnostic precision,enabling better quantification of liver stiffness and fat content,which are essential for diagnosing and staging liver fibrosis and steatosis.Combining advanced US modalities,such as elastography and doppler imaging with AI,has demonstrated improved sensitivity in identifying different stages of liver disease and distinguishing various degrees of steatotic liver.These advancements also contribute to greater reproducibility and reduced operator dependency,addressing some of the limitations of traditional methods.The clinical implications of AI in liver disease are vast,ranging from early detection to predicting disease progression and evaluating treatment response.Despite these promising developments,challenges such as the need for large-scale datasets,algorithm transparency,and clinical validation remain.The aim of this review is to explore the current applications and future potential of AI in liver fibrosis and steatosis assessment using multiparametric US,highlighting the technological advances and clinical relevance of this emerging field.展开更多
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided shear wave elastography(EUS-SWE)represents a significant advancement in non-invasive tissue characterization,enabling objective assessment of quantitative tissue stiffness in real-time wit...Endoscopic ultrasound-guided shear wave elastography(EUS-SWE)represents a significant advancement in non-invasive tissue characterization,enabling objective assessment of quantitative tissue stiffness in real-time with potential clinical relevance across a variety of gastrointestinal disorders.Recent developments in EUS-SWE have expanded its application beyond hepatic fibrosis to include pancreatic diseases and the evaluation of solid tumors.EUS-SWE has demonstrated diagnostic accuracy comparable to vibration-controlled transient elastography in assessing fibrosis stages,positioning it as a potential alternative to liver biopsy.Moreover,EUS-SWE has shown promise in evaluating pancreatic tissue stiffness,aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.This technique offers a distinct advantage by allowing tissue stiffness measurements during the same procedure,thereby reducing the need for additional imaging studies and biopsies.Despite its clinical potential,challenges remain,including the need for standardized protocols,optimal cutoff values,and validation across diverse patient populations.This minireview provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature on EUS-SWE,examining its diagnostic performance,reproducibility,and limitations.Furthermore,we discuss the future directions of EUS-SWE,including its integration into routine clinical practice and its evolving role in precision medicine,emphasizing the necessity of large-scale studies to solidify its clinical utility and establish standardized guidelines for its use.展开更多
BACKGROUND Shear wave elastography(SWE)is a non-invasive ultrasound-based technique used to assess tissue stiffness,which reflects underlying pathological changes.While SWE has been widely applied for liver fibrosis e...BACKGROUND Shear wave elastography(SWE)is a non-invasive ultrasound-based technique used to assess tissue stiffness,which reflects underlying pathological changes.While SWE has been widely applied for liver fibrosis evaluation,its application to other abdominal organs,such as the spleen and pancreas,is gaining interest.However,normal stiffness values and inter-system agreement remain poorly defined.AIM To assess the feasibility and agreement of liver,spleen,and pancreas stiffness using three SWE methods.METHODS This single-center observational study enrolled 50 healthy adult volunteers.Liver,spleen,and pancreas stiffness were assessed using three SWE methods:Point-SWE(p-QElaXto)and 2-Dimensional-SWE(2D-QElaXto)with Esaote MyLab 9,and 2D-SWE with SuperSonic Imagine.Feasibility,inter-operator reproducibility,and concordance among systems were evaluated.Stiffness was expressed as median kPa values,and technical reliability was assessed using the interquartile range/median ratio and stability index thresholds.RESULTS Liver and spleen stiffness assessment was feasible in>98%of patients,while pancreas stiffness was measurable in 84%-88%depending on the SWE technique.Mean liver stiffness ranged between 3.9-4.7 kPa across techniques,spleen stiffness ranged from 19.4-23.0 kPa,and pancreas stiffness from 5.2-7.6 kPa.Inter-operator agreement was excellent for liver(intraclass correlation coefficient>0.90)and good to moderate for spleen and pancreas(intraclass correlation coefficient from 0.43 to 0.90).Bland-Altman analysis confirmed good correlation but also systematic differences among devices,especially in pancreas measurements.CONCLUSION This is the first study to establish normal liver,spleen,and pancreas stiffness using MyLab 9 SWE integrated methods as compared to SuperSonic Imagine,with acceptable inter-technique agreement.Liver and spleen values matched existing guidelines;pancreas SWE showed more variability and reduced reproducibility.展开更多
Several therapeutic procedures have been proposed as bridging treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)awaiting liver transplantation(LT).The most used treatments include transarterial chemoembolizati...Several therapeutic procedures have been proposed as bridging treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)awaiting liver transplantation(LT).The most used treatments include transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation.Surgical resection has also been successfully used as a bridging procedure,and LT should be considered a rescue treatment in patients with previous HCC resection who experience tumor recurrence or post-treatment severe decompensation of liver function.The aims of bridging treatments include decreasing the waiting list dropout rate before transplantation,reducing HCC recurrence after transplantation,and improving post-transplant overall survival.To date,no data from prospective randomized studies are available;however,for HCC patients listed for LT within the Milan criteria,prolonging the waiting time over 6-12 mo is a risk factor for tumor spread.Bridging treatments are useful in containing tumor progression and decreasing dropout.Furthermore,the response to pre-LT treatments may represent a surrogate marker of tumor biological aggressiveness and could therefore be evaluated to prioritize HCC candidates for LT.Lastly,although a definitive conclusion can not be reached,the experiences reported to date suggest a positive impact of these treatments on both tumor recurrence and post-transplant patient survival.Advanced HCC may be downstaged to achieve and maintain the current conventional criteria for inclusion in the waiting list for LT.Recent studies have demonstrated that successfully downstaged patients can achieve a 5-year survival rate comparable to that of patients meeting the conventional criteria without requiring downstaging.展开更多
During the last two decades, various local thermal ablative techniques for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) have been developed. According to internationally endorsed guidelines, percutaneou...During the last two decades, various local thermal ablative techniques for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) have been developed. According to internationally endorsed guidelines, percutaneous thermal ablation is the mainstay of treatment in patients with small HCC who are not candidates for surgical resection or transplantation. Laser ablation(LA) represents one of currently available loco-ablative techniques. In this article, the general principles, technique, image guidance, and patient selection are reported. Primary effectiveness, long-term outcome, and complications are also discussed. A review of published data suggests that LA is equivalent to the more popular and widespread radiofrequency ablation in both local tumor control and long-term outcome in the percutaneous treatment of early HCC. In addition, the LA technique using multiple thin laser fibres allows improved ablative effectiveness in HCCs greater than 3 cm. Reference centres should be equipped with all the available techniques so as to be able to use the best and the most suitable procedure for each type of lesion for each patient.展开更多
AIM:To clarify which method has accuracy:2nd gen-eration contrast-enhanced ultrasound or biopsy of portal vein thrombus in the differential diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis.METHODS:One hundred and eighty-six patien...AIM:To clarify which method has accuracy:2nd gen-eration contrast-enhanced ultrasound or biopsy of portal vein thrombus in the differential diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis.METHODS:One hundred and eighty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis underwent in blinded fashion a 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound and biopsy of portal vein thrombus;both results were examined on the basis of the follow-up of patients compared to reference-standard.RESULTS:One hundred and eight patients completed the study.Benign thrombosis on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound was characterised by progressive hypoenhancing of the thrombus;in malignant portal vein thrombosis there was a precocious homo-geneous enhancement of the thrombus.On follow-up there were 50 of 108 patients with benign thrombosis:all were correctly diagnosed by both methods.There were 58 of 108 patients with malignant thrombosis:amongst these,52 were correctly diagnosed by both methods,the remainder did not present malignant cells on portal vein thrombus biopsy and showed on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound an inho-mogeneous enhancement pattern.A new biopsy during the follow-up,guided to the area of thrombus that showed up on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultra-sound,demonstrated an enhancing pattern indicating malignant cells.CONCLUSION:In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by portal vein thrombosis,2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound of portal vein thrombus is very useful in assessing the benign or malignant nature of the thrombus.Puncture biopsy of thrombus is usually accurate but presents some sampling errors,so,when pathological results are required,2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound could guide the sampling needle to the correct area of the thrombus.展开更多
Background: We describe the clinical and color Doppler ultrasound findings in a series of cases of seeding from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) observed in patients treated with percutaneous ablation therapy (PAT) over...Background: We describe the clinical and color Doppler ultrasound findings in a series of cases of seeding from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) observed in patients treated with percutaneous ablation therapy (PAT) over a 15-year period. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and imaging records of 12 patients with cirrhos is (nine men and three women, age range 51-82 years, mean age 63 years) that showed neoplastic seeding from HCC occurring after one or more PAT procedures. Five of 12 cases of seeding were observed as a complication of 1080 PAT procedures (0.46%) performed in 545 patients (0.96%) by two of the authors (L.T., G.F.) over a long period (15 years) at different institutions. The other seven patients had been treated with PAT procedures at other institutions and had come to our attention during post-treatment follow-up. Results: The 12 patients who had seeding nodules had undergone the following PAT procedures: multisession conventional percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) without anesthesia (four patients), single-session PEI with general anesthesia (three patients), single-session PEI w ith general anesthesia plus multisession conventional PEI (four patients), and s ingle-session PEI plus radiofrequency ablation (one patient). Seeding nodules r anged from 0.9 to 6.0 cm (mean 1.7 cm). Eleven of 12 seeding nodules appeared as hypervascular hypoechoic nodules with smooth and regular margins and multiple i ntralesional vascular signals. Conclusions: Clinical and imaging findings of see ding from HCC should be recognized by physicians who perform follow-up ultrasou nd examinations of patients who are treated with PAT. Early diagnosis of seeding can be reliably made by scanning the abdominal wall with small probes in the area where the previous PAT has been performed. Hypoechoic hyperva scular pattern of the seeding nodule allows definitive diagnosis.展开更多
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)with pure blood stream contrast agents allow the study of blood supply of focal liver lesions and especially of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in cirrhosis.Its sensitivity and specifici...Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)with pure blood stream contrast agents allow the study of blood supply of focal liver lesions and especially of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in cirrhosis.Its sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of small tumors is very high.This review summarizes the recent results on CEUS with SonoVue,which is one of the second generation contrast agents,in the diagnosis of early HCC in cirrhosis emphasizing its increasing role in routine clinical practice.展开更多
Background and Aims: Despite resection being considered the treatment of choice for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC),percutaneous thermal ablation can be an alter-native treatment for patients unfit for surgery.Ou...Background and Aims: Despite resection being considered the treatment of choice for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC),percutaneous thermal ablation can be an alter-native treatment for patients unfit for surgery.Our aim was to compare long-term results of percutaneous sonographi-cally-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)with high-powered microwave ablation(MWSA)in treatment of ICC.Methods: Results of 71 ICC patients with 98 nodules treated with RFA(36 patients)or MWSA(35 patients)between January 2008 and June 2018 in 5 Interventional Ultrasound centers of Southern Italy were retrospectively reviewed.Cu-mulative overall survival curves were calculated with the Ka-plan-Meyer method and differences with the log-rank test.Eleven possible factors affecting survival were analyzed.Results: Overall survival of the entire series was 88%,65%,45%and 34%at 12,36,60 and 80 months,respec-tively.Patients treated with MWSA survived longer than pa-tients treated with RFA(p < 0.005).The MWSA group with ICC nodules ≤3 cm or nodules up to 4 cm survived longer than the RFA group(p < 0.0005).In patients with nodules>4 cm,no significant difference was found.Disease-free sur-vival and progression-free survival were better in the MWSA group compared to the RFA group(p < 0.005).Diameter of nodules and MWSA were independent factors predicting a better survival.No major complications were observed.Conclusions: MWSA is superior to RFA in treating ICC unfit for surgery,achieving better long-term survival in small(≤3 cm)ICC nodules as well as nodules up to 4 cm of neo-plastic tumors and should replace RFA.展开更多
Among the 3 sub-types of cholangiocarcinoma (CH), [intrahepatic CH, hylar (CH) and extrahepatic (CH)], intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) accounts for up 8–10% of cholangiocarcinomas and 10–20% of all primary liv...Among the 3 sub-types of cholangiocarcinoma (CH), [intrahepatic CH, hylar (CH) and extrahepatic (CH)], intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) accounts for up 8–10% of cholangiocarcinomas and 10–20% of all primary liver tumors (1).展开更多
The last 30 years have shown the increasing role of Ablation in the treatment of malignant liver tumors. By the introduction of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) as first ablation tool for percutaneous treatment of...The last 30 years have shown the increasing role of Ablation in the treatment of malignant liver tumors. By the introduction of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) as first ablation tool for percutaneous treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis that firstly showed very high efficacy (1), several ablation techniques (mainly thermal) have been introduced in clinical practice aimed at destroying primary and secondary hepatic tumors as alternative or substitute tools to surgery. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was the first thermal technique that showed a good efficacy to ablate liver metastases (2). Among the secondary liver tumors, colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) represent the unique indication for ablation (2). Unlike HCC in cirrhosis where the role of RFA is well defined as first line therapy for HCC nodules < or equal to 2 cm or as alternative to surgery in 1-3 HCC nodules with the maximum diameter<3 cm (3), in the case of CRLM it is not possible to reproduce the same paradigm. Liver resection remains the standard of care for CRLM and the indications to ablation remain confined to nonresectable patients (4). The review article by Takahashi and Berber recently published in HBSN wells illustrates the current role of ablation in treatment of CRLM (5).展开更多
文摘Artificial intelligence(AI)is revolutionizing medical imaging,particularly in chronic liver diseases assessment.AI technologies,including machine learning and deep learning,are increasingly integrated with multiparametric ultrasound(US)techniques to provide more accurate,objective,and non-invasive evaluations of liver fibrosis and steatosis.Analyzing large datasets from US images,AI enhances diagnostic precision,enabling better quantification of liver stiffness and fat content,which are essential for diagnosing and staging liver fibrosis and steatosis.Combining advanced US modalities,such as elastography and doppler imaging with AI,has demonstrated improved sensitivity in identifying different stages of liver disease and distinguishing various degrees of steatotic liver.These advancements also contribute to greater reproducibility and reduced operator dependency,addressing some of the limitations of traditional methods.The clinical implications of AI in liver disease are vast,ranging from early detection to predicting disease progression and evaluating treatment response.Despite these promising developments,challenges such as the need for large-scale datasets,algorithm transparency,and clinical validation remain.The aim of this review is to explore the current applications and future potential of AI in liver fibrosis and steatosis assessment using multiparametric US,highlighting the technological advances and clinical relevance of this emerging field.
文摘Endoscopic ultrasound-guided shear wave elastography(EUS-SWE)represents a significant advancement in non-invasive tissue characterization,enabling objective assessment of quantitative tissue stiffness in real-time with potential clinical relevance across a variety of gastrointestinal disorders.Recent developments in EUS-SWE have expanded its application beyond hepatic fibrosis to include pancreatic diseases and the evaluation of solid tumors.EUS-SWE has demonstrated diagnostic accuracy comparable to vibration-controlled transient elastography in assessing fibrosis stages,positioning it as a potential alternative to liver biopsy.Moreover,EUS-SWE has shown promise in evaluating pancreatic tissue stiffness,aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.This technique offers a distinct advantage by allowing tissue stiffness measurements during the same procedure,thereby reducing the need for additional imaging studies and biopsies.Despite its clinical potential,challenges remain,including the need for standardized protocols,optimal cutoff values,and validation across diverse patient populations.This minireview provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature on EUS-SWE,examining its diagnostic performance,reproducibility,and limitations.Furthermore,we discuss the future directions of EUS-SWE,including its integration into routine clinical practice and its evolving role in precision medicine,emphasizing the necessity of large-scale studies to solidify its clinical utility and establish standardized guidelines for its use.
文摘BACKGROUND Shear wave elastography(SWE)is a non-invasive ultrasound-based technique used to assess tissue stiffness,which reflects underlying pathological changes.While SWE has been widely applied for liver fibrosis evaluation,its application to other abdominal organs,such as the spleen and pancreas,is gaining interest.However,normal stiffness values and inter-system agreement remain poorly defined.AIM To assess the feasibility and agreement of liver,spleen,and pancreas stiffness using three SWE methods.METHODS This single-center observational study enrolled 50 healthy adult volunteers.Liver,spleen,and pancreas stiffness were assessed using three SWE methods:Point-SWE(p-QElaXto)and 2-Dimensional-SWE(2D-QElaXto)with Esaote MyLab 9,and 2D-SWE with SuperSonic Imagine.Feasibility,inter-operator reproducibility,and concordance among systems were evaluated.Stiffness was expressed as median kPa values,and technical reliability was assessed using the interquartile range/median ratio and stability index thresholds.RESULTS Liver and spleen stiffness assessment was feasible in>98%of patients,while pancreas stiffness was measurable in 84%-88%depending on the SWE technique.Mean liver stiffness ranged between 3.9-4.7 kPa across techniques,spleen stiffness ranged from 19.4-23.0 kPa,and pancreas stiffness from 5.2-7.6 kPa.Inter-operator agreement was excellent for liver(intraclass correlation coefficient>0.90)and good to moderate for spleen and pancreas(intraclass correlation coefficient from 0.43 to 0.90).Bland-Altman analysis confirmed good correlation but also systematic differences among devices,especially in pancreas measurements.CONCLUSION This is the first study to establish normal liver,spleen,and pancreas stiffness using MyLab 9 SWE integrated methods as compared to SuperSonic Imagine,with acceptable inter-technique agreement.Liver and spleen values matched existing guidelines;pancreas SWE showed more variability and reduced reproducibility.
文摘Several therapeutic procedures have been proposed as bridging treatments for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)awaiting liver transplantation(LT).The most used treatments include transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation.Surgical resection has also been successfully used as a bridging procedure,and LT should be considered a rescue treatment in patients with previous HCC resection who experience tumor recurrence or post-treatment severe decompensation of liver function.The aims of bridging treatments include decreasing the waiting list dropout rate before transplantation,reducing HCC recurrence after transplantation,and improving post-transplant overall survival.To date,no data from prospective randomized studies are available;however,for HCC patients listed for LT within the Milan criteria,prolonging the waiting time over 6-12 mo is a risk factor for tumor spread.Bridging treatments are useful in containing tumor progression and decreasing dropout.Furthermore,the response to pre-LT treatments may represent a surrogate marker of tumor biological aggressiveness and could therefore be evaluated to prioritize HCC candidates for LT.Lastly,although a definitive conclusion can not be reached,the experiences reported to date suggest a positive impact of these treatments on both tumor recurrence and post-transplant patient survival.Advanced HCC may be downstaged to achieve and maintain the current conventional criteria for inclusion in the waiting list for LT.Recent studies have demonstrated that successfully downstaged patients can achieve a 5-year survival rate comparable to that of patients meeting the conventional criteria without requiring downstaging.
文摘During the last two decades, various local thermal ablative techniques for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) have been developed. According to internationally endorsed guidelines, percutaneous thermal ablation is the mainstay of treatment in patients with small HCC who are not candidates for surgical resection or transplantation. Laser ablation(LA) represents one of currently available loco-ablative techniques. In this article, the general principles, technique, image guidance, and patient selection are reported. Primary effectiveness, long-term outcome, and complications are also discussed. A review of published data suggests that LA is equivalent to the more popular and widespread radiofrequency ablation in both local tumor control and long-term outcome in the percutaneous treatment of early HCC. In addition, the LA technique using multiple thin laser fibres allows improved ablative effectiveness in HCCs greater than 3 cm. Reference centres should be equipped with all the available techniques so as to be able to use the best and the most suitable procedure for each type of lesion for each patient.
文摘AIM:To clarify which method has accuracy:2nd gen-eration contrast-enhanced ultrasound or biopsy of portal vein thrombus in the differential diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis.METHODS:One hundred and eighty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis underwent in blinded fashion a 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound and biopsy of portal vein thrombus;both results were examined on the basis of the follow-up of patients compared to reference-standard.RESULTS:One hundred and eight patients completed the study.Benign thrombosis on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound was characterised by progressive hypoenhancing of the thrombus;in malignant portal vein thrombosis there was a precocious homo-geneous enhancement of the thrombus.On follow-up there were 50 of 108 patients with benign thrombosis:all were correctly diagnosed by both methods.There were 58 of 108 patients with malignant thrombosis:amongst these,52 were correctly diagnosed by both methods,the remainder did not present malignant cells on portal vein thrombus biopsy and showed on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound an inho-mogeneous enhancement pattern.A new biopsy during the follow-up,guided to the area of thrombus that showed up on 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultra-sound,demonstrated an enhancing pattern indicating malignant cells.CONCLUSION:In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by portal vein thrombosis,2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound of portal vein thrombus is very useful in assessing the benign or malignant nature of the thrombus.Puncture biopsy of thrombus is usually accurate but presents some sampling errors,so,when pathological results are required,2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasound could guide the sampling needle to the correct area of the thrombus.
文摘Background: We describe the clinical and color Doppler ultrasound findings in a series of cases of seeding from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) observed in patients treated with percutaneous ablation therapy (PAT) over a 15-year period. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and imaging records of 12 patients with cirrhos is (nine men and three women, age range 51-82 years, mean age 63 years) that showed neoplastic seeding from HCC occurring after one or more PAT procedures. Five of 12 cases of seeding were observed as a complication of 1080 PAT procedures (0.46%) performed in 545 patients (0.96%) by two of the authors (L.T., G.F.) over a long period (15 years) at different institutions. The other seven patients had been treated with PAT procedures at other institutions and had come to our attention during post-treatment follow-up. Results: The 12 patients who had seeding nodules had undergone the following PAT procedures: multisession conventional percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) without anesthesia (four patients), single-session PEI with general anesthesia (three patients), single-session PEI w ith general anesthesia plus multisession conventional PEI (four patients), and s ingle-session PEI plus radiofrequency ablation (one patient). Seeding nodules r anged from 0.9 to 6.0 cm (mean 1.7 cm). Eleven of 12 seeding nodules appeared as hypervascular hypoechoic nodules with smooth and regular margins and multiple i ntralesional vascular signals. Conclusions: Clinical and imaging findings of see ding from HCC should be recognized by physicians who perform follow-up ultrasou nd examinations of patients who are treated with PAT. Early diagnosis of seeding can be reliably made by scanning the abdominal wall with small probes in the area where the previous PAT has been performed. Hypoechoic hyperva scular pattern of the seeding nodule allows definitive diagnosis.
文摘Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)with pure blood stream contrast agents allow the study of blood supply of focal liver lesions and especially of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)in cirrhosis.Its sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of small tumors is very high.This review summarizes the recent results on CEUS with SonoVue,which is one of the second generation contrast agents,in the diagnosis of early HCC in cirrhosis emphasizing its increasing role in routine clinical practice.
文摘Background and Aims: Despite resection being considered the treatment of choice for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC),percutaneous thermal ablation can be an alter-native treatment for patients unfit for surgery.Our aim was to compare long-term results of percutaneous sonographi-cally-guided radiofrequency ablation(RFA)with high-powered microwave ablation(MWSA)in treatment of ICC.Methods: Results of 71 ICC patients with 98 nodules treated with RFA(36 patients)or MWSA(35 patients)between January 2008 and June 2018 in 5 Interventional Ultrasound centers of Southern Italy were retrospectively reviewed.Cu-mulative overall survival curves were calculated with the Ka-plan-Meyer method and differences with the log-rank test.Eleven possible factors affecting survival were analyzed.Results: Overall survival of the entire series was 88%,65%,45%and 34%at 12,36,60 and 80 months,respec-tively.Patients treated with MWSA survived longer than pa-tients treated with RFA(p < 0.005).The MWSA group with ICC nodules ≤3 cm or nodules up to 4 cm survived longer than the RFA group(p < 0.0005).In patients with nodules>4 cm,no significant difference was found.Disease-free sur-vival and progression-free survival were better in the MWSA group compared to the RFA group(p < 0.005).Diameter of nodules and MWSA were independent factors predicting a better survival.No major complications were observed.Conclusions: MWSA is superior to RFA in treating ICC unfit for surgery,achieving better long-term survival in small(≤3 cm)ICC nodules as well as nodules up to 4 cm of neo-plastic tumors and should replace RFA.
文摘Among the 3 sub-types of cholangiocarcinoma (CH), [intrahepatic CH, hylar (CH) and extrahepatic (CH)], intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) accounts for up 8–10% of cholangiocarcinomas and 10–20% of all primary liver tumors (1).
文摘The last 30 years have shown the increasing role of Ablation in the treatment of malignant liver tumors. By the introduction of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) as first ablation tool for percutaneous treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis that firstly showed very high efficacy (1), several ablation techniques (mainly thermal) have been introduced in clinical practice aimed at destroying primary and secondary hepatic tumors as alternative or substitute tools to surgery. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was the first thermal technique that showed a good efficacy to ablate liver metastases (2). Among the secondary liver tumors, colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) represent the unique indication for ablation (2). Unlike HCC in cirrhosis where the role of RFA is well defined as first line therapy for HCC nodules < or equal to 2 cm or as alternative to surgery in 1-3 HCC nodules with the maximum diameter<3 cm (3), in the case of CRLM it is not possible to reproduce the same paradigm. Liver resection remains the standard of care for CRLM and the indications to ablation remain confined to nonresectable patients (4). The review article by Takahashi and Berber recently published in HBSN wells illustrates the current role of ablation in treatment of CRLM (5).
