Additional value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for fusion-guided, percutaneous biopsies of focal liver lesions: prospective feasibility study.

PURPOSE

To determine the value of CEUS for real-time, fusion-guided, percutaneous biopsies of focal liver lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Institutional review board approval and written informed consents were obtained for this study. Forty patients with focal liver lesions identified on CT/MRI were prospectively enrolled. For biopsy planning, real-time fusion of CT/MRI with USG (USG-Fusion) was performed, and subsequently real-time CEUS was fused with CT/MRI (CEUS-Fusion). We evaluated lesion visibility, confidence level of technical success before the procedure, and safety route accessibility on USG-Fusion and CEUS-Fusion. Occurrence of change in the biopsy target was also assessed.

RESULTS

Among 40 target lesions, nine (22.5%) lesions were invisible on USG-Fusion. After applying CEUS-Fusion, seven of nine (77.8%) lesions were visualized. Confidence level of technical success of procedure was significantly increased on CEUS-Fusion compared USG-Fusion (p = 0.02), and presumed target lesions were changed in 16 (40%) patients after CEUS-Fusion. As the lesion is necrotic, presumed target was more frequently changed after CEUS-Fusion (50.0% and 25.0%). Confirmative diagnostic results were reported in 39 (97.5%) patients. Accessibility of the safety route to target lesions did not reach statistical differences.

CONCLUSION

Applying a new, real-time CEUS-Fusion with CT/MRI improved tumor visibility and viable portion assessment, thus leading to higher operator confidence and diagnostic yield, when compared with conventional USG-Fusion.