Ultrasonographic characteristics of hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the features of hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm ( HNEN ) with conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound sonography (CEUS) ,and to evaluate the value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of HNEN by ultrasound . Methods Fifty patients of HNEN confirmed pathologically or clinically were enrolled . All patients underwent conventional ultrasound and CEUS . Among the patients ,5 cases were primary hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm ( PHNEN) ,and 45 cases were metastatic hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm ( MHNEN) . Conventional ultrasound and CEUS features of HNEN were analyzed and the distinctions between PHNEN and MHNEN were compared . Results Baseline ultrasound showed that 37 (74％ ) HNEN were multiple lesions located in liver ,23 ( 46％ ) lesions with hyperechoic appearance ,35 ( 70％ ) lesions with homogeneous echoic ,28 ( 56％ ) lesions were clearly marginated ,8 (16％ ) lesions were surrounded by acoustic halo ,and 12 ( 24％ ) lesions with posterior echo attenuation . CEUS showed that the majority of HNEN exhibited the enhanced pattern of rapid wash-in and wash-out" . Forty-six ( 92％ ) lesions showed hyper-enhancement in the arterial phase ,44 ( 88％ ) lesions showed iso-enhancement in the portal phase ,and 47 ( 94％ ) lesions showed hypo-enhancement in the late phase .Feeding vessels were observed in 31 ( 62％ ) lesions ,intralesional non-enhancement zone was observed in 17(34％ ) lesions ,and capsule enhancement in the delay phase was found in 10( 20％ ) lesions . MHNEN had smaller diameter [ ( 3 .92 ± 2 .77) cm vs (12 .82 ± 8 .85) cm , P = 0 .004] and less likely to present cystic structure intralesional than PHNEN ( 1/45 vs 2/5 , P < 0 .001 ) . The differences of other baseline ultrasonographic characteristics ,enhanced characteristics and enhanced time on CEUS between PHNEN and MHNEN were not statistically significant ( all P > 0 .05) . Conclusions HNEN has a certain characteristic that can be identified on ultrasonography . Ultrasound can provide some valuable information to diagnose HNEN . While it′s difficult to differentiate PHNEN and MHNEN owing to their similar ultrasonographic characteristics .