Value of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in Sentinel Lymph Node after Primary Breast Cancer Resection / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of percutaneous and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound（P-Ⅳ-CEUS） in sentinel lymph nodes（SLNs） after resection of early-stage primary breast cancer. MethodsA retrospective analysis was done on the clinical and imaging data of 42 early breast cancer patients. Following primary tumor resection， all these patients underwent reoperation in our hospital. SLNs were examined by preoperative P-Ⅳ-CEUS and intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy（SLNB） was performed by using Methylene blue as a tracer. Then we analyzed the detection and false-negative rate in CEUS and SLNB respectively. By using the surgical pathological results as the gold standard， the diagnostic efficacy of CEUS for SLNs was explored. ResultsThe detection rate and false negative rate of SLNs in percutaneous contrast-enhanced ultrasound （P-CEUS） were 92.9% （39/42） and 7.1% （3/42）， respectively. The detection rate in methylene blue staining was 100% （41/41） and one patient underwent neoadjuvant therapy due to biopsy-confirmed metastasis. The sensitivity， specificity， positive predictive value， negative predictive value and accuracy of P-Ⅳ-CEUS were 66.7% （2/3）， 100% （37/37）， 100% （2/2）， 97.3% （36/37） and 97.4% （38/39）， respectively. ConclusionsP-Ⅳ-CEUS after resection of early-stage primary breast cancer can accurately detect SLNs and characterize their status， which is a reliable clinical basis for reducing invasive SLNB.

Advantages of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the localization and diagnostics of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are the first station of lymph nodes that extend from the breast tumor to the axillary lymphatic drainage. The pathological status of these LNs can predict that of the entire axillary lymph node. Therefore, the accurate identification of SLNs is necessary for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to replace axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The quality of life and prognosis of breast cancer patients are related to proper surgical treatment after the precise identification of SLNs. Some of the SLN tracers that have been identified include radioisotope, nano-carbon, indocyanine green (ICG), and methylene blue (MB). However, these tracers have certain limitations, such as pigmentation, radiation dangers, and the requirement for costly detection equipment. Ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) have good specificity and sensitivity, and thus can compensate for some shortcomings of the mentioned tracers. This technique is also being applied to SLNB in patients with breast cancer, and can even provide an initial judgment on SLN status. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has the advantages of high distinguishability, simple operation, no radiation harm, low cost, and accurate localization; therefore, it is expected to replace the traditional biopsy methods. In addition, it can significantly enhance the accuracy of SLN localization and shorten the operation time.

Clinical application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in hepatic artery thrombosis after pediatric liver transplantation / 器官移植

Objective To investigate the clinical application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after pediatric liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 126 pediatric recipients undergoing liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of HAT after pediatric liver transplantation was summarized. Color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS manifestations of HAT were compared. Results According to color Doppler ultrasound, 17 cases were highly suspected with HAT. Nine cases were highly suspected with HAT by CEUS, who were subsequently confirmed by CT angiography (CTA) or surgery. CEUS manifestations of HAT showed that hepatic artery was not seen surrounding the portal vein during the arterial phase or even portal venous phase. Hepatocyte necrosis occurred in 4 patients with HAT, and no perfusion of intrahepatic contrast agent was observed on CEUS. Conclusions CEUS yields high clinical application value in the diagnosis of HAT after pediatric liver transplantation. It has significant advantages compared with traditional CTA, which could be widely applied in clinical practice.

Preliminary study of early diagnosis by contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with mesenchymal stem cell therapy in improving prognosis of biliary ischemia after liver transplantation / 器官移植

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of early diagnosis by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in the treatment of biliary ischemia after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 9 recipients presenting with biliary ischemia detected by CEUS within 4 weeks after liver transplantation and diagnosed with non-anastomotic biliary stricture (NAS) within postoperative 1 year were retrospectively analyzed. In the conventional treatment group, 4 recipients were treated with conventional treatment including liver protection, cholagogic therapy and interventional therapy. In MSC treatment group, 5 recipients received intravenous infusion of MSC at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after biliary ischemia detected by CEUS on the basis of conventional therapy. The interventional treatment and clinical prognosis within 1 year after liver transplantation were analyzed between two groups. Results Two recipients in the MSC treatment group required interventional therapy, which was initially given at 7-9 months after liver transplantation for 1-2 times. All recipients in the conventional treatment group required interventional therapy, which was initially delivered at postoperative 1-3 months for 2-6 times, earlier than that in the MSC treatment group. Within 1 year following liver transplantation, diffuse bile duct injury occurred in 2 recipients in MSC treatment group, and no graft dysfunction was observed. In the conventional treatment group, all recipients developed diffuse bile duct injury, and 2 recipients presented with graft dysfunction. Conclusions Early diagnosis of biliary ischemia after liver transplantation by CEUS combined with MSC therapy may delay and reduce the requirement of interventional therapy for NAS, and also improve clinical prognosis of the recipients.

Clinical value of contrast- enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of subcapsular small liver cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective: To evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of subcapsular small liver cancer. Methods: Fifty-one patients diagnosed with subcapsular liver cancer by ultrasound or other imaging between January 2017 and July 2019 were enrolled. The manifestations of conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were analyzed, and the characteristics, summarized. Results: There were a total of 53 lesions, all of which were confirmed on the basis of surgical findings, clinical manifestations, or imaging findings. All lesions were located under the liver capsule. Forty-five lesions were located close to the liver capsule, whereas 8 lesions were located within 10 mm from the liver capsule. Of the subcapsular lesions, 90.6% (48/53) were isoechoic and slightly higher or lower echoic, and 94.3% (50/53) had unclear boundaries. CEUS revealed rapid arterial enhancement in 48 of 53 lesions and synchronous enhancement in 5 lesions. In the portal phase, 38 lesions (71.7%) presented hypoechoic changes, and 15 lesions presented isoechoic changes. In the delayed phase, 50 lesions (94.3%) presented hypoechoic changes, and 3 lesions presented isoechoic changes. Among the 53 lesions, the "fast in and fast out" type was found in 38 cases (71.7%) and the "fast in and slow out" type, in 12 cases (22.6%). There were also 3 cases (5.7%) of "fast in and no out" type. Conventional ultrasound revealed 15 lesions, with a detection rate of 28.3% (15/53), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound revealed 53 lesions, with a detection rate of 100% (53/53). The difference between the two methods was statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusions: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has a high detection rate for subcapsular small liver cancer and has a significant clinical value.

A Prospective Study on the Value of Ultrasound Microflow Assessment to Distinguish Malignant from Benign Solid Breast Masses: Association between Ultrasound Parameters and Histologic Microvessel Densities

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of ultrasound (US) microflow assessment in distinguishing malignant from benign solid breast masses as well as the association between US parameters and histologic microvessel density (MVD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight breast masses (57 benign and 41 malignant) were examined using Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI) and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) before biopsy. Two radiologists evaluated the quantitative and qualitative vascular parameters on SMI (vascular index, morphology, distribution, and penetration) and CEUS (time-intensity curve analysis and enhancement characteristics). US parameters were compared between benign and malignant masses and the diagnostic performance was compared between SMI and CEUS. Subgroup analysis was performed according to lesion size. The effect of vascular parameters on downgrading Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4A masses was evaluated. The association between histologic MVD and US parameters was analyzed. RESULTS: Malignant masses were associated with a higher vascular index (15.1 ± 7.3 vs. 5.9 ± 5.6), complex vessel morphology (82.9% vs. 42.1%), central vascularity (95.1% vs. 59.6%), penetrating vessels (80.5% vs. 31.6%) on SMI (all, p < 0.001), as well as higher peak intensity (37.1 ± 25.7 vs. 17.0 ± 15.8, p < 0.001), slope (10.6 ± 11.2 vs. 3.9 ± 4.2, p = 0.001), area (1035.7 ± 726.9 vs. 458.2 ± 410.2, p < 0.001), hyperenhancement (95.1% vs. 70.2%, p = 0.005), centripetal enhancement (70.7% vs. 45.6%, p = 0.023), penetrating vessels (65.9% vs. 22.8%, p < 0.001), and perfusion defects (31.7% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001) on CEUS (p ≤ 0.023). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of SMI and CEUS were 0.853 and 0.841, respectively (p = 0.803). In 19 masses measuring < 10 mm, central vascularity on SMI was associated with malignancy (100% vs. 38.5%, p = 0.018). Considering all benign SMI parameters on the BI-RADS assessment, unnecessary biopsies could be avoided in 12 category 4A masses with improved AUCs (0.500 vs. 0.605, p < 0.001). US vascular parameters associated with malignancy showed higher MVD (p ≤ 0.016). MVD was higher in malignant masses than in benign masses, and malignant masses negative for estrogen receptor or positive for Ki67 had higher MVD (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: US microflow assessment using SMI and CEUS is valuable in distinguishing malignant from benign solid breast masses, and US vascular parameters are associated with histologic MVD.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound of Gastric Cancer: Correlation with Perfusion CT and Histopathology

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) parameters and perfusion CT (PCT) parameters of gastric cancers and their correlation with histologic features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. We included 43 patients with pathologically-proven gastric cancers undergoing CEUS using SonoVue® (Bracco) and PCT on the same day. Correlation between the CEUS parameters (peak intensity [PI], area under the curve [AUC], rise time [RT] from 10% to 90% of PI, time to peak [TTPUS], and mean transit time [MTTUS]) and PCT parameters (blood flow, blood volume, TTPCT, MTTCT, and permeability surface product) of gastric cancers were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test. In cases of surgical resection, the CEUS and PCT parameters were compared according to histologic features using Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: CEUS studies were of diagnostic quality in 88.4% (38/43) of patients. Among the CEUS parameters of gastric cancers, RT and TTPUS showed significant positive correlations with TTPCT (rho = 0.327 and 0.374, p = 0.045 and 0.021, respectively); PI and AUC were significantly higher in well-differentiated or moderately-differentiated tumors (n = 4) than poorly-differentiated tumors (n = 18) (p = 0.026 and 0.033, respectively), whereas MTTCT showed significant differences according to histologic types (poorly cohesive carcinoma [PCC] vs. non-PCC), T-staging (≤ T2 vs. ≥ T3), N-staging (N0 vs. N-positive), and epidermal growth factor receptor expression (≤ faint vs. ≥ moderate staining) (p values < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with gastric cancers, CEUS is technically feasible for the quantification of tumor perfusion and may provide correlative and complementary information to that of PCT, which may allow prediction of histologic features.

Anti-angiogenic therapy for gallbladder carcinoma using contrast enhanced ultrasound / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in gallbladder carcinoma anti-angiogenesis treatment.Methods Subcutaneous gallbladder carcinoma model was consturcted.The mice were divided into intervention-drug group and control group randomly.The mice of intervention-drug group were treated with Endostar (10 mg · kg-1 · d-1) by intraperitoneal injection for two weeks.Two groups of mice were detected by CEUS,then the time of arrival (AT),peak time (TTP),peak intensity (PI),area under the curve (AUC) were measured via time-intensity curve.Expression of MVD and VEGF both in the intervention and control groups were studied through immunohistochemistry.and the correlations between MVD,VEGF and CEUS parameteres were further analyzed.Results The mean values of PI in drug intervention group and control group were 10.8 ± 5.5 and 16.8 ± 5.8,respectively.The values of PI in intervention-drug group were lower than that in control group significantly (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in AT,TTP,AUC between the two groups.The mean values of MVD on drug intervention group and control group were 8.5 ± 3.8 and 13.1 ± 3.5,respectively.The mean values of VEGF on drug intervention group and control group were 4.3 ± 0.5 and 4.7 ± 0.4,respectively.The values of MVD and VEGF in intervention-drug group were significant lower than that control group (P ＜ 0.05).MVD and VEGF values of intervention-drug group were correlated with PI (r =0.712,P ＜ 0.05;r =0.739,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Endostar can inhibit the growth of gallbladder carcinoma and PI can be used as an effective marker to evaluatethe effect of anti-angiogenic therapy in gallbladder carcinoma.