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 Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)is considered a secondary examination compared to computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),due to the ris...BACKGROUND Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)is considered a secondary examination compared to computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),due to the risk of misdiagnosing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).The introduction of CEUS Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(CEUS LI-RADS)might overcome this limitation.Even though data from the literature seems promising,its reliability in real-life context has not been well-established yet.AIM To test the accuracy of CEUS LI-RADS for correctly diagnosing HCC and ICC in cirrhosis.METHODS CEUS LI-RADS class was retrospectively assigned to 511 nodules identified in 269 patients suffering from liver cirrhosis.The diagnostic standard for all nodules was either biopsy(102 nodules)or CT/MRI(409 nodules).Common diagnostic accuracy indexes such as sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and negative predictive value(NPV)were assessed for the following associations:CEUS LR-5 and HCC;CEUS LR-4 and 5 merged class and HCC;CEUS LR-M and ICC;and CEUS LR-3 and malignancy.The frequency of malignant lesions in CEUS LR-3 subgroups with different CEUS patterns was also determined.Inter-rater agreement for CEUS LI-RADS class assignment and for major CEUS pattern identification was evaluated.RESULTS CEUS LR-5 predicted HCC with a 67.6%sensitivity,97.7%specificity,and 99.3%PPV(P<0.001).The merging of LR-4 and 5 offered an improved 93.9%sensitivity in HCC diagnosis with a 94.3%specificity and 98.8%PPV(P<0.001).CEUS LR-M predicted ICC with a 91.3%sensitivity,96.7%specificity,and 99.6%NPV(P<0.001).CEUS LR-3 predominantly included benign lesions(only 28.8%of malignancies).In this class,the hypo-hypo pattern showed a much higher rate of malignant lesions(73.3%)than the iso-iso pattern(2.6%).Inter-rater agreement between internal raters for CEUS-LR class assignment was almost perfect(n=511,k=0.94,P<0.001),while the agreement among raters from separate centres was substantial(n=50,k=0.67,P<0.001).Agreement was stronger for arterial phase hyperenhancement(internal k=0.86,P<2.7×10-214;external k=0.8,P<0.001)than washout(internal k=0.79,P<1.6×10-202;external k=0.71,P<0.001).CONCLUSION CEUS LI-RADS is effective but can be improved by merging LR-4 and 5 to diagnose HCC and by splitting LR-3 into two subgroups to differentiate iso-iso nodules from other patterns.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
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
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
AIM:To compare results of liver stiffness measurements by transient elastography(TE) obtained in our patients population with that used in a recently published meta-analysis.METHODS:This was a single center cross-sect...AIM:To compare results of liver stiffness measurements by transient elastography(TE) obtained in our patients population with that used in a recently published meta-analysis.METHODS:This was a single center cross-sectional study.Consecutive patients with chronic viral hepatitis scheduled for liver biopsy at the outpatient ward of our Infectious Diseases Department were enrolled.TE was carried out by using FibroScan(Echosens,Paris,France).Liver biopsy was performed on the same day as TE,as day case procedure.Fibrosis was staged according to the Metavir scoring system.The diagnostic performance of TE was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves and the area under the ROC curve analysis.RESULTS:Two hundred and fifty-two patients met the inclusion criteria.Six(2%) patients were excluded due to unreliable TE measurements.Thus,246(171 men and 75 women) patients were analyzed.One hundred and ninety-five(79.3%) patients had chronic hepatitis C,41(16.7%) had chronic hepatitis B,and 10(4.0%) were coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus.ROC curve analysis identified optimal cut-off value of TE as high as 6.9 kPa forF ≥ 2;7.9 kPa forF ≥ 3;9.6 kPa for F = 4 in all patients(n = 246),and as high as 6.9 kPa for F ≥ 2;7.3 kPa for F ≥ 3;9.3 kPa for F = 4 in patients with hepatitis C(n = 195).Cut-off values of TE obtained by maximizing only the specificity were as high as 6.9 kPa for F ≥ 2;9.6 kPa for F ≥ 3;12.2 kPa for F = 4 in all patients(n = 246),and as high as 7.0 kPa forF ≥ 2;9.3 kPa forF ≥ 3;12.3 kPa forF = 4 in patients with hepatitis C(n = 195).CONCLUSION:The cut-off values of TE obtained in this single center study are comparable to that obtained in a recently published meta-analysis that included up to 40 studies.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
To assess whether elevated levels of estriol (E3)inpregnancy are a factor in the fetal environment associated with undescended testes, we carried out a two-part study: case-control followed by a retrospective cohort s...To assess whether elevated levels of estriol (E3)inpregnancy are a factor in the fetal environment associated with undescended testes, we carried out a two-part study: case-control followed by a retrospective cohort study on cryptorchid boys born in the Sapir Medical Center (Kfar Saba, Israel). We found significantly lower pregnancy urinary E3 levels in cryptorchid newborns as compared to controls; however, subgroup comparison yielded significantly higher pregnancy unconjugated E3 levels in the infants who underwent orchiopexy as compared to those who did not.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
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.
基金Supported by the Fondazione di Sardegna,No.FDS2019VIDILIthe University of Sassari,No.FAR2019.
文摘BACKGROUND Contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)is considered a secondary examination compared to computed tomography(CT)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),due to the risk of misdiagnosing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).The introduction of CEUS Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System(CEUS LI-RADS)might overcome this limitation.Even though data from the literature seems promising,its reliability in real-life context has not been well-established yet.AIM To test the accuracy of CEUS LI-RADS for correctly diagnosing HCC and ICC in cirrhosis.METHODS CEUS LI-RADS class was retrospectively assigned to 511 nodules identified in 269 patients suffering from liver cirrhosis.The diagnostic standard for all nodules was either biopsy(102 nodules)or CT/MRI(409 nodules).Common diagnostic accuracy indexes such as sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and negative predictive value(NPV)were assessed for the following associations:CEUS LR-5 and HCC;CEUS LR-4 and 5 merged class and HCC;CEUS LR-M and ICC;and CEUS LR-3 and malignancy.The frequency of malignant lesions in CEUS LR-3 subgroups with different CEUS patterns was also determined.Inter-rater agreement for CEUS LI-RADS class assignment and for major CEUS pattern identification was evaluated.RESULTS CEUS LR-5 predicted HCC with a 67.6%sensitivity,97.7%specificity,and 99.3%PPV(P<0.001).The merging of LR-4 and 5 offered an improved 93.9%sensitivity in HCC diagnosis with a 94.3%specificity and 98.8%PPV(P<0.001).CEUS LR-M predicted ICC with a 91.3%sensitivity,96.7%specificity,and 99.6%NPV(P<0.001).CEUS LR-3 predominantly included benign lesions(only 28.8%of malignancies).In this class,the hypo-hypo pattern showed a much higher rate of malignant lesions(73.3%)than the iso-iso pattern(2.6%).Inter-rater agreement between internal raters for CEUS-LR class assignment was almost perfect(n=511,k=0.94,P<0.001),while the agreement among raters from separate centres was substantial(n=50,k=0.67,P<0.001).Agreement was stronger for arterial phase hyperenhancement(internal k=0.86,P<2.7×10-214;external k=0.8,P<0.001)than washout(internal k=0.79,P<1.6×10-202;external k=0.71,P<0.001).CONCLUSION CEUS LI-RADS is effective but can be improved by merging LR-4 and 5 to diagnose HCC and by splitting LR-3 into two subgroups to differentiate iso-iso nodules from other patterns.
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AIM:To compare results of liver stiffness measurements by transient elastography(TE) obtained in our patients population with that used in a recently published meta-analysis.METHODS:This was a single center cross-sectional study.Consecutive patients with chronic viral hepatitis scheduled for liver biopsy at the outpatient ward of our Infectious Diseases Department were enrolled.TE was carried out by using FibroScan(Echosens,Paris,France).Liver biopsy was performed on the same day as TE,as day case procedure.Fibrosis was staged according to the Metavir scoring system.The diagnostic performance of TE was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves and the area under the ROC curve analysis.RESULTS:Two hundred and fifty-two patients met the inclusion criteria.Six(2%) patients were excluded due to unreliable TE measurements.Thus,246(171 men and 75 women) patients were analyzed.One hundred and ninety-five(79.3%) patients had chronic hepatitis C,41(16.7%) had chronic hepatitis B,and 10(4.0%) were coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus.ROC curve analysis identified optimal cut-off value of TE as high as 6.9 kPa forF ≥ 2;7.9 kPa forF ≥ 3;9.6 kPa for F = 4 in all patients(n = 246),and as high as 6.9 kPa for F ≥ 2;7.3 kPa for F ≥ 3;9.3 kPa for F = 4 in patients with hepatitis C(n = 195).Cut-off values of TE obtained by maximizing only the specificity were as high as 6.9 kPa for F ≥ 2;9.6 kPa for F ≥ 3;12.2 kPa for F = 4 in all patients(n = 246),and as high as 7.0 kPa forF ≥ 2;9.3 kPa forF ≥ 3;12.3 kPa forF = 4 in patients with hepatitis C(n = 195).CONCLUSION:The cut-off values of TE obtained in this single center study are comparable to that obtained in a recently published meta-analysis that included up to 40 studies.
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To assess whether elevated levels of estriol (E3)inpregnancy are a factor in the fetal environment associated with undescended testes, we carried out a two-part study: case-control followed by a retrospective cohort study on cryptorchid boys born in the Sapir Medical Center (Kfar Saba, Israel). We found significantly lower pregnancy urinary E3 levels in cryptorchid newborns as compared to controls; however, subgroup comparison yielded significantly higher pregnancy unconjugated E3 levels in the infants who underwent orchiopexy as compared to those who did not.
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.
