Diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in monitoring vascular complications in patients after liver transplantation – diagnostic performance compared with histopathological results
Issue title: Developments in the application of high resolution ultrasound in clinical diagnostics
Affiliations: Department of Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich-Grosshadern Campus, Munich, Germany
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. med. Johannes Rübenthaler, Department of Clinical Radiology, Interdisciplinary Ultrasound Center, University of Munich – Grosshadern Campus, Marchioninistr. 15, Munich 81377, Germany. Tel.: +49 89 44007 3627; Fax: +49 89 44007 8832; E-mail: Johannes.Ruebenthaler@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to the study.
Abstract: PURPOSE: To analyse the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in patients with vascular complications and transplant rejection compared to histopathological results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study consisted of 45 retrospectively analysed patients that underwent liver transplantations between January 1993 and December 2015 and developed post-transplant vascular complications with transplant rejection. CEUS examinations took place between September 2006 and December 2015. CEUS findings were correlated with histopathological results. RESULTS: CEUS showed a sensitivity of 61.5%, a specificity of 100.0%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100.0% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 86,5% in the detection of vascular complications with post-transplant rejection. 5 examinations were reported as normal whereas the histopathological result showed a transplant rejection (false-negative). CONCLUSION: CEUS might be a useful additional non-invasive technique for the assessment of vascular complications with post-transplant rejection in patients after liver transplantation.
