Non-invasive evaluation of vascular architecture of focal liver lesions by micro vascular imaging.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the value of vascular architecture detected by micro vascular imaging (MVI) in preoperative diagnosis of focal liver lesions (FLLs).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients with surgery and histopathologically proved or radiologically confirmed FLLs were included. Vascular architecture of FLLs were acquired by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and MVI on LOGIQ™ E20 ultrasound machine (C1-6 convex array probes). Alder semiquantitative analysis (grade 0-3) and morphologic features of blood vessels (pattern a-f) were used to assess the blood flow within the FLLs. Interobserver agreement for evaluating blood flow of FLLs was analyzed. Using Adler's grading or morphologic patterns as diagnostic criteria for malignant FLLs, the diagnostic efficiency was analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

From October 2021 and February 2022, 50 patients diagnosed with 40 malignant FLLs and 10 benign FLLs were finally included. The Kappa value within two observers for evaluating the blood flow of FLLs was 0.78 for MVI and 0.55 for CDFI. According to Alder semiquantitative analysis, more high-level blood flow signals (grade 2-3) were detected by MVI than CDFI (P < 0.05). Based on high-level blood flow signals (grade 2-3) and hypervascular supply patterns (pattern e and f), the diagnostic accuracy for malignant FLLs were 76% and 68% for MVI, 56% and 38% for CDFI, respectively.

CONCLUSION

MVI is superior to CDFI in evaluating vascular architecture of FLLs. The high-level flow signals and hypervascular pattern detected by MVI have a useful and complementary value in preoperative non-invasive identification of malignant FLLs.