Real-time contrast-enhanced specific ultrasound in staging and follow-up of splenic lymphomas

Front Biosci. 2006 Sep 1:11:2224-9. doi: 10.2741/1965.

Abstract

From January 2003 to April 2005 we studied 25 lymphoma patients (10 with HD, 4 with low-grade NHL, 6 with high-grade NHL and 5 with chronic lymphatic leukaemia; 14 men, 11 women, age range 28-79 years). After a baseline US study we rapidly injected 4.8 mL of the second-generation microbubble contrast agent SonoVue (Bracco, Italy). Contrast enhanced studies were carried out with the contrast-specific software named Contrast Tuned Imaging (Esaote, Italy) using a continuous, harmonic acquisition and a low acoustic pressure. The CS-US findings were correlated with results of standard tools, including CT, MRI, US follow up. CS-US revealed correctly 47 out of the 52 lesions identified by CT scan, in the absence of false positive findings (sensitivity = 90%; Specificity = 100%, in comparison to CT scan). Complete concordance in evaluating the lesion extension of the CS-US in respect to CT was 88%, while underestimate occurred in 9% and overestimate in 3% of cases. On the contrary, basic sonography defined correctly the dimensional alteration in 52% of the cases, underestimated in 35% and overestimated in 13%, thus showing significantly lower accuracy (chi-square = 30.0, p < 0.001). In our experience, CS-US was superior to conventional sonography even from a qualitative point of view.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Contrast Media / administration & dosage
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / diagnostic imaging*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging / methods*
  • Phospholipids / administration & dosage
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Software
  • Splenic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Splenic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride / administration & dosage
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Phospholipids
  • contrast agent BR1
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride