Gallbladder Sarcomatoid Carcinoma Diagnosed after Surgery / 대한췌담도학회지

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is rarely diagnosed as gallbladder cancer. Its aggressive nature, due to the characteristics of both sarcoma and carcinoma, results in a poor prognosis. We report a case of gallbladder sarcomatoid carcinoma in an 82-year-old male who was referred to our hospital for evaluation of gallbladder cancer observed on abdominopelvic computed tomography. The characteristics of the cancer were not confirmed after several imaging modalities. The surgically resected tumor was positive for both cytokeratin and vimentin as revealed via immunohistochemical staining, and a sarcomatoid carcinoma was finally diagnosed. The role of chemotherapy has not yet been identified. Therefore, radiation therapy is planned to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Utility of Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy Using a Multibending Ultraslim Endoscope for Difficult Common Bile Duct Stones

Background/Aims@#Treatment options for difficult bile duct stones are limited. Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC)-guided lithotripsy may be an option. A newly developed multibending (MB) ultraslim endoscope has several structural features optimized for direct POC. We evaluated the utility of direct POC using an MB ultraslim endoscope for lithotripsy in patients with difficult bile duct stones. @*Methods@#Twenty patients with difficult bile duct stones, in whom stone removal using conventional endoscopic methods, including mechanical lithotripsy, had failed were enrolled from March 2018 to August 2019. Direct POC-guided lithotripsy was performed by electrohydraulic lithotripsy or laser lithotripsy. The primary outcome was complete ductal clearance, defined as the retrieval of all bile duct stones after lithotripsy confirmed by balloon-occluded cholangiography and/or direct POC. @*Results@#The technical success rate of direct POC was 100% (20/20), and the free-hand insertion rate was 95% (19/20). Direct POC-guided lithotripsy, attempted by electrohydraulic lithotripsy in nine patients (45%) and laser lithotripsy in 11 patients (55%), was successful in 95% (19/20) of the patients. Complete ductal clearance after direct POC-guided lithotripsy was achieved in 95% (19/20) of patients. Patients required a median of 2 (range, 1–3) endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sessions for complete stone removal. Adverse event was observed in one patient (5%) with hemobilia and was treated conservatively. @*Conclusions@#Direct POC using an MB ultraslim endoscope was safe and effective for lithotripsy in patients with difficult bile duct stones.

Clinical outcomes of patients with a single hepatocellular carcinoma less than 5 cm treated with transarterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND/AIMS@#Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is performed for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that are not eligible for surgery or ablation therapy. We investigated the clinical outcomes of patients with a single HCC ≤ 5 cm treated with TACE.@*METHODS@#This study analyzed 175 consecutive patients who underwent TACE as an initial treatment for single HCC ≤ 5 cm. Predictive factors for complete response (CR), recurrence after CR, and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.@*RESULTS@#Total 119 patients (68%) achieved CR after TACE. Tumor size 65 years and absence of liver cirrhosis were predictive factors for non-recurrence after CR (p < 0.05). The OS for all patients was 80.7 ± 5.6 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 88.1%, 64.8%, and 49.9%, respectively. In multivariate analysis for OS, CR (hazard ratio [HR], 0.467; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.292 to 0.747) and Child class A (HR, 0.390; 95% CI, 0.243 to 0.626) were significant factors. The OS for the CR and Child class A group were 92 and 93.6 months, respectively, and that of the non-CR and Child B, C group were 53.3 and 50.7 months, respectively (p < 0.001).@*CONCLUSIONS@#TACE can be a valid treatment in patients with a single HCC ≤ 5 cm not suitable for curative treatment, especially in patients with Child class A and CR after TACE.

Is the Isolated-Tip Needle-Knife Precut as Effective as Conventional Precut Fistulotomy in Difficult Biliary Cannulation?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Needle-knife precut fistulotomy (NK-F) is a well-known freehand technique for difficult biliary cannulation (DBC). Another approach involves the use of Iso-Tome®, a modified precutting device with an insulated needle tip to prevent direct thermal injury. This comparative study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Iso-Tome® precut (IT-P) compared to that of NK-F for DBC. METHODS: Patients with a naive papilla who underwent early IT-P or NK-F for DBC were enrolled. DBC was defined as failure to achieve selective biliary access by wire-guided cannulation despite 5 minutes of attempted cannulation, ≥5 papillary contacts, or a hook-nose-shaped papilla. The primary endpoint was the primary technical success rate, which was based on a noninferiority model. RESULTS: A total of 239 DBC cases were enrolled. The primary technical success rates were 74.7% (89/119) in the IT-P group and 91.6% (110/120) in the NK-F group (lower limit of 90% confidence interval, −0.23; p=0.927 for a noninferiority margin of 10%). The total technical success rates were 87.4% and 95.0%, respectively (p=0.038). The mean precutting times for successful biliary access were 11.2 minutes for IT-P and 7.3 minutes for NK-F (p < 0.01). The procedure-related adverse event rates were 9.2% for IT-P and 5.8% for NK-F (p=0.318). The rates of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis were 4.2% and 2.5%, respectively (p=0.499). CONCLUSIONS: IT-P failed to exhibit noninferiority compared with NK-F regarding the primary technical success rate of DBC, but there was no difference in the frequency of adverse events.

Prospective Comparison of Intraductal Ultrasonography-Guided Transpapillary Biopsy and Conventional Biopsy on Fluoroscopy in Suspected Malignant Biliary Strictures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In suspected malignant biliary strictures (MBSs), the diagnostic yield of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based tissue sampling is limited. Transpapillary forceps biopsy (TPB) under intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) guidance is expected to improve the diagnostic accuracy in patients with indeterminate biliary strictures. We evaluated the usefulness of IDUS-guided TPB in patients with suspected MBS. METHODS: Consecutive patients with suspected MBS were prospectively enrolled in the study. ERCP with IDUS was performed in all patients. Both conventional TPB and IDUS-guided TPB on fluoroscopy were performed in each patient. The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of conventional TPB and IDUS-guided TPB. RESULTS: The technical success rate of IDUS-guided TPB was 97.0% (65/67 patients). Of these 65 patients, the final diagnosis was malignancy in 61 patients (93.8%). On IDUS, the most common finding of IDUS was an intraductal infiltrating lesion in 29 patients (47.5%). The overall diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher using IDUS-guided TPB than that using conventional TPB (90.8% vs 76.9%, p=0.027). According to the subgroup analysis based on the tumor morphology, IDUS-guided TPB had a significantly higher cancer detection rate than conventional TPB for intraductal infiltrating lesions (89.6% vs 65.5%, p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: IDUS-guided TPB appears to improve the accuracy of histological diagnosis in patients with MBS.

Management of Intrahepatic Duct Stone / 대한소화기학회지

Intrahepatic duct (IHD) stone is the presence of calculi within the intrahepatic bile duct specifically located proximal to the confluence of the left and right hepatic ducts. This stone is characterized by its intractable nature and frequent recurrence, requiring multiple therapeutic interventions. Without proper treatment, biliary strictures and retained stones can lead to repeated episodes of cholangitis, liver abscesses, secondary biliary cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and death from sepsis or hepatic failure. The ultimate treatment goals for IHD stones are complete removal of the stone, the correction of the associated strictures, and the prevention of recurrent cholangitis. A surgical resection can satisfy the goal of treatment for hepatolithiasis, i.e., complete removal of the IHD stones, stricture, and the risk of cholangiocarcinogenesis. On the other hand, in some cases, such as bilateral IHD stones, surgery alone cannot achieve these goals. Therefore, the optimal treatments require a multidisciplinary approach, including endoscopic and radiologic interventional procedures before and/or after surgery. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotomy (PTCS-L) is particularly suited for patients at poor surgical risk or who refuse surgery and those with previous biliary surgery or stones distributed in multiple segments. PTCS-L is relatively safe and effective for the treatment of IHD stones, and complete stone clearance is mandatory to reduce the sequelae of IHD stones. An IHD stricture is the main factor contributing to incomplete clearance and stone recurrence. Long-term follow-up is required because of the overall high recurrence rate of IHD stones and the association with cholangiocarcinoma.

Pancreatic Choriocarcinoma with Multiple Metastases: a Case Report and Literature Review / 대한췌담도학회지

Non-gestational, extragonadal choriocarcinoma is a rare disease and pancreatic choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare disease. Choriocarcinoma of non-placental origin is a highly malignant carcinoma with poor prognosis. It is characterized by high serum human chorionic gonadotropin levels. There is no standard therapy for extragonadal choriocarcinoma. Herein, we report a 47-year-old woman who presented with acute pancreatitis and left hemianopsia and was diagnosed with pancreatic choriocarcinoma with multiple metastases in liver, lung, and brain. Although the patient was treated with best supportive care, she succumbed to cerebral edema and hypernatremia on the fifteenth day of hospitalization.

A Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Pulmonary Metastasis Who Showed Complete Response by Cytotoxic Chemotherapy after Sorafenib Failure

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 2nd most common cause of cancer related death in Korea and well-known malignancy with poor prognosis. Sorafenib is the first-line molecular targeted agent in patients with extra-hepatic spread of HCC. However, complete response is extremely rare in patients treated with sorafenib and the disease control rate is only 43%. We report a 53-year-old man with advanced HCC with pulmonary metastasis who showed complete response by cytotoxic chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cisplatin with relatively tolerable adverse effects after failure of treatment with sorafenib.

Predictive Factors for Complete Response and Recurrence after Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the predictive factors for complete response (CR) and recurrence after CR in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: Among 691 newly diagnosed HCC patients, 287 were treated with TACE as a first therapy. We analyzed the predictive factors for CR, recurrence after CR, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Eighty-one patients (28.2%) achieved CR after TACE, and recurrence after CR was detected in 35 patients (43.2%). In multivariate analyses, tumor size (≤5 cm) and single nodularity were predictive factors for CR, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 0.35 (p=0.002) and 0.41 (p20 ng/mL) level and multinodularity exhibited significant relationships with recurrence after CR, with HRs of 2.220 (p=0.026) and 3.887 (p5 cm), multinodularity, elevated serum AFP (>20 ng/mL) level, Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (B and C), and portal vein thrombosis were significant factors for OS. CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated with TACE as a first therapy, tumor size (≤5 cm) and single nodularity were predictive factors for CR, and multinodularity and elevated serum AFP (>20 ng/mL) levels were predictive factors for recurrence after CR. These factors were also significant for OS.

Partially Covered Metal Stents May Not Prolong Stent Patency Compared to Uncovered Stents in Unresectable Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Controversy still exists regarding the benefits of covered self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) compared to uncovered SEMSs. We aimed to compare the patency and stent-related adverse events of partially covered SEMSs (PC-SEMSs) and uncovered SEMSs in unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction. METHODS: A total of 134 patients who received a PC-SEMS or uncovered SEMS for palliation of unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction were reviewed retrospectively. The main outcome measures were stent patency, stent-related adverse events, and overall survival. RESULTS: The median stent patency was 118 days (range, 3 to 802 days) with PC-SEMSs and 105 days (range, 2 to 485 days) with uncovered SEMSs (p=0.718). The overall endoscopic revision rate due to stent dysfunction was 36.6% (26/71) with PC-SEMSs and 36.5% (23/63) with uncovered SEMSs (p=0.589). Tumor ingrowth was more frequent with uncovered SEMSs (4.2% vs 19.1%, p=0.013), but migration was more frequent with PC-SEMSs (11.2% vs 1.5%, p=0.04). The incidence of stent-related adverse events was 2.8% (2/71) with PC-SEMSs and 9.5% (6/63) with uncovered SEMSs (p=0.224). The median overall survival was 166 days with PC-SEMSs and 168 days with uncovered SEMSs (p=0.189). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to uncovered SEMSs, PC-SEMSs did not prolong stent patency in unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction. Stent migration was more frequent with PC-SEMSs. However, tumor ingrowth was less frequent with PC-SEMSs compared to uncovered SEMSs.

A Case of Surgical Resection in Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Pulmonary Metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is well known malignancy with poor prognosis, even after resection of the primary tumor. Sorafenib is the first-line treatment in advanced HCC, but the disease control rate of sorafenib is only 43%. Pulmonary metastasectomy in patients with pulmonary metastasis from HCC has been reported to increase long-term survival compared with systemic chemotherapy. Video-assisted thoracic surgery is considered a reliable approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases with low complication rate. Pulmonary metastasectomy is not universally accepted because of frequent local recurrence, an uncontrollable primary tumor, and frequent multiple pulmonary metastases in HCC, but outcome of pulmonary metastasectomy and adjuvant sorafenib therapy has not been studied. We experienced a patient who had advanced HCC with pulmonary oligometastasis and received surgical resection of the metastatic pulmonary nodule and sorafenib chemotherapy. In advanced HCC with pulmonary oligometastasis, surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis and sorafenib chemotherapy should be considered.

Endoscopic Duodenal Snare Papillectomy Induced Complication: Prevention and Management / 대한소화기학회지

Tumors of the major duodenal papilla are being recognized more often because of the increased use of diagnostic upper endoscopy and ERCP. The standard of management for ampullary tumor is local surgical excision or pancreaticoduodenectomy, but these procedures are associated with significant mortality, as well as post-operative and long-term morbidity. Endoscopic snare papillectomy was introduced as an alternative to surgery, but post-procedure complications are serious drawback. The most serious complications are perforation, delayed bleeding and pancreatitis. Identification of high risk patients, early recognition of complications, and aggressive management abates frequency and severity. Prevention and management of endoscopic duodenal papillectomy-induced complications will be reviewed in this article.

Synchronous Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas Diagnosed by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Biopsy

Cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with multiple masses accompanying underlying pancreatic diseases, such as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, have been reported. However, synchronous invasion without underlying pancreatic disease is very rare. A 61-year-old female with abdominal discomfort and jaundice was admitted to our hospital. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed cancer of the pancreatic head with direct invasion of the duodenal loop and common bile duct. However, positron emission tomography-CT showed an increased standardized uptake value (SUV) in the pancreatic head and tail. We performed endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) for the histopathologic diagnosis of the pancreatic head and the evaluation of the increased SUV in the tail portion of the pancreas, as the characteristics of these lesions could affect the extent of surgery. As a result, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas were confirmed by both cytologic and histologic analyses. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of the biopsy specimens was positive for carcinoembryonic antigen and p53 in both masses. The two masses were ultimately diagnosed as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, stage IIB, based on EUS-FNB and imaging studies. In conclusion, the entire pancreas must be evaluated in a patient with a pancreatic mass to detect the rare but possible presence of synchronous pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Additionally, EUS-FNB can provide pathologic confirmation in a single procedure.

Endoscopic Extraction of Biliary Fascioliasis Diagnosed Using Intraductal Ultrasonography in a Patient with Acute Cholangitis

Fasciola hepatica infection may result in biliary obstruction with or without cholangitis in the chronic biliary phase. Because clinical symptoms and signs of F. hepatica are similar to other biliary diseases that cause bile duct obstruction, such as stones or bile duct malignancies, that are, in fact, more common, this condition may not be suspected and diagnosis may be overlooked and delayed. Patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasonography for the evaluation of bile duct obstruction may be incidentally detected with the worm, and diagnosis can be confirmed by extraction of the leaf-like trematode from the bile duct. Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) can provide high-resolution cross-sectional images of the bile duct, and is useful in evaluating indeterminate biliary diseases. We present a case of biliary fascioliasis that was diagnosed using IDUS and managed endoscopically in a patient with acute cholangitis.

Clinical Features of Drug-induced Liver Injury According to Etiology

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an increasingly common cause of acute hepatitis. We examined clinical features and types of liver injury of 65 affected patients who underwent liver biopsy according DILI etiology. The major causes of DILI were the use of herbal medications (43.2%), prescribed medications (21.6%), and traditional therapeutic preparations and dietary supplements (35%). DILI from herbal medications, traditional therapeutic preparations, and dietary supplements was associated with higher elevations in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels than was DILI from prescription medications. The types of liver injury based on the R ratio were hepatocellular (67.7%), mixed (10.8%), and cholestatic (21.5%). Herbal medications and traditional therapeutic preparations were more commonly associated with hepatocellular liver injury than were prescription medications (P = 0.002). Herbal medications and traditional therapeutic preparations induce more hepatocellular DILI and increased elevations in AST and ALT than prescribed medications.

Diagnostic Approach to Recurrent Idiopathic Pancreatitis / 대한내과학회지

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) most commonly results from alcohol abuse or gallstone disease. Nevertheless, the initial evaluation fails to detect the cause of ARP in 20% to 30% of patients, who are thus diagnosed with idiopathic pancreatitis. Further evaluation is indicated in patients with a severe initial attack of acute pancreatitis or those with two or more attacks. This evaluation might include one or more of the following procedures: specialized laboratory studies, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Based on our experience, the initial step in this evaluation should be MRCP or EUS because of the high safety and diagnostic yield of these techniques. If MRCP or EUS is negative, then ERCP with sphincter of Oddi manometry, intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), or bile analysis should be considered.

Predictive factors of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the response to transarterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The predictive role of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) before performing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has not been determined. We assessed the possible predictive factors of CEUS for the response to TACE. METHODS: Seventeen patients with 18 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underwent TACE. All of the tumors were studied with CEUS before TACE using a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent (SonoVue(R), Bracco, Milan, Italy). The tumor response to TACE was classified with a score between 1 and 4 according to the remaining enhancing-tumor percentage based on modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST): 1, enhancing tumor or =75%). A score of 1 was defined as a "good response" to TACE. The predictive factors for the response to TACE were evaluated during CEUS based on the maximum tumor diameter, initial arterial enhancing time, arterial enhancing duration, intensity of arterial enhancement, presence of a hypoenhanced pattern, and the feeding artery to the tumor. RESULTS: The median tumor size was 3.1 cm. The distribution of tumor response scores after TACE in all tumors was as follows: 1, n=11; 2, n=4; 3, n=2; and 4, n=1. Fifteen tumors showed feeding arteries. The presence of a feeding artery and the tumor size (< or =5 cm) were the predictive factors for a good response (P=0.043 and P=0.047, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a feeding artery and a tumor size of less than 5 cm were the predictive factors for a good response of HCC to TACE on CEUS.

New Technique of Endoscopic Sphincterotomy with Iso-Tome(R) to Incise the Distal Papillary Roof in Patients with Choledocholiths and Choledochoduodenal Fistula

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is sometimes difficult to incise the distal papillary roof (PR) completely in patients with choledocholiths and choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF). The Iso-Tome(R) (MTW-Endoskopie W. Haag KG), which is helpful in preventing electrical leakage, has good orientation capabilities and can be easily placed at the orifice of the CDF or ampulla of Vater (AV). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with the Iso-Tome(R) for cutting the distal PR. METHODS: Between May 2003 and July 2012, 35 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The distal PR was cut downward and/or upward using the Iso-tome(R) until the pink intrapapillary mucosa was fully exposed. Downward incisions were performed from the opening of the CDF to the orifice of the AV; upward incisions were performed in reverse. RESULTS: Spontaneous or artificial CDF occurred in four and 31 patients, respectively. The technical and therapeutic success rates were 94.3% (33/35) and 94.3% (33/35), respectively. There was no case of electrical damage to the pink intrapapillary mucosa. Adverse events occurred in 2.9% (1/35; 1, mild bleeding) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The new technique of ES with the Iso-tome(R) is feasible and useful for effectively incising the distal PR in patients with CDF and choledocholiths.

New Technique of Endoscopic Sphincterotomy with Iso-Tome(R) to Incise the Distal Papillary Roof in Patients with Choledocholiths and Choledochoduodenal Fistula

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is sometimes difficult to incise the distal papillary roof (PR) completely in patients with choledocholiths and choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF). The Iso-Tome(R) (MTW-Endoskopie W. Haag KG), which is helpful in preventing electrical leakage, has good orientation capabilities and can be easily placed at the orifice of the CDF or ampulla of Vater (AV). We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with the Iso-Tome(R) for cutting the distal PR. METHODS: Between May 2003 and July 2012, 35 patients were analyzed retrospectively. The distal PR was cut downward and/or upward using the Iso-tome(R) until the pink intrapapillary mucosa was fully exposed. Downward incisions were performed from the opening of the CDF to the orifice of the AV; upward incisions were performed in reverse. RESULTS: Spontaneous or artificial CDF occurred in four and 31 patients, respectively. The technical and therapeutic success rates were 94.3% (33/35) and 94.3% (33/35), respectively. There was no case of electrical damage to the pink intrapapillary mucosa. Adverse events occurred in 2.9% (1/35; 1, mild bleeding) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The new technique of ES with the Iso-tome(R) is feasible and useful for effectively incising the distal PR in patients with CDF and choledocholiths.

Clinically Useful Diagnostic Tool of Contrast Enhanced Ultrasonography for Focal Liver Masses: Comparison to Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast (SonoVue(R)) enhancement ultrasonography (CEUS) and to compare this method with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating liver masses. METHODS: CEUS (n=50), CT (n=47), and MRI (n=43) were performed on 50 liver masses in 48 patients for baseline mass characterization. The most likely impression for each modality and the final diagnosis, based on the combined biopsy results (n=14), angiography findings (n=36), and clinical course, were determined. The diagnostic value of CEUS was compared to those of CT and MRI. RESULTS: The final diagnosis of the masses was hepatocellular carcinoma (n=43), hemangioma (n=3), benign adenoma (n=2), eosinophilic abscess (n=1), and liver metastasis (n=1). The overall diagnostic agreement with the final diagnosis was substantial for CEUS, CT, and MRI, with kappa values of 0.621, 0.763, and 0.784, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83.3%, 87.5%, and 84.0%, respectively, for CEUS; 95.0%, 87.5%, and 93.8%, respectively, for CT; and 94.6%, 83.3%, and 93.0%, respectively for MRI. After excluding the lesions with poor acoustic sonographic windows, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for CEUS were 94.6%, 87.5%, and 93.3%, respectively, with a kappa value of 0.765. CONCLUSIONS: If an appropriate acoustic window is available, CEUS is comparable to CT and MRI for the diagnosis of liver masses.