Performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared to MRI in the diagnostic of gallbladder diseases
Issue title: Selected papers of the 38th Conference of the German Society for Clinical Microcirculation and Hemorheology, 21-23 November 2019, Braunschweig, Germany
Guest editors: P. Wiggermann, A. Krüger-Genge and F. Jung
Affiliations: Department of Radiology, Interdisciplinary Ultrasound-Center Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich – Grosshadern Campus, Munich, Germany
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. Med. Giovanna Negrão de Figueiredo, M.D, M.Sc. Department of Radiology, Interdisciplinary Ultrasound Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich – Grosshadern Campus, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. Tel.: +49 89/44007 3620; Fax: +49 89/44007 8832; E-mail: Giovanna.Negrao_de_Figueiredo@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Conventional ultrasound and MRI are very important techniques for the detection of gallbladder alterations. In the past years, studies showed that the additional use of contrast media to the conventional ultrasound allows the early depiction of pathological microvessels and their flow elucidating suspect findings stipulating the prompt therapy approach. OBJECTIVE:The study aims to evaluate the performance of CEUS in gallbladder diseases and compare it to MR imaging using histopathological findings as a gold standard. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The retrospective mono-center study analysed 18 patients with gallbladder alterations between 2009 and 2017. All patients underwent CEUS and MRI examinations and all results were confirmed in the pathology. CEUS images were performed and interpreted by a single experienced physician. RESULTS:CEUS imaging results compared to MR imaging of the gallbladder demonstrated a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93%, a positive predictive value of 67% and a negative predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSION:CEUS enables the depiction and characterization of important vascularization’s patterns facilitating the early differentiation between malignant and benign findings. In this study, CEUS displayed a better diagnostic accuracy than MRI proving to be a valuable additional tool to the established imaging modalities.
