Contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults with chronic liver disease

Research Progress on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment in Liver-Related Diseases

Liver-related diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis, are globally prevalent and significantly contribute to mortality rates. Despite the availability of various imaging techniques for liver evaluation, a consensus regarding the selection of an accurate and safe method remains elusive. As a non-invasive imaging approach, the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in assisting the diagnosis and treatment of liver-related diseases has been established. Compared to conventional methods, CEUS offers notable advantages, including high safety, convenience, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. Recent advancements have demonstrated the expanded utility of CEUS in liver-related diseases. In addition to diagnosing focal liver lesions, CEUS is increasingly employed for guiding local treatments, assessing liver transplantation suitability, and planning surgical interventions. However, its application requires caution due to the high technical proficiency demanded of operators, time-sensitive imaging processes, and susceptibility to visual interference. This review summarizes the current applications and recent advancements in CEUS-assisted diagnosis and treatment of liver-related diseases, explores its future potential, and proposes possible improvements. The objective is to enhance the accuracy and versatility of non-invasive liver assessments and provide a reference for the broader and more effective utilization of CEUS in liver disease diagnosis and management.

GALAD, or des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin compared with alpha-foetoprotein for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in people with chronic liver disease

OBJECTIVES

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin, GALAD (Gender, Age, Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive AFP, AFP and DCP), and alpha-foetoprotein for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma of any size, and at any stage, in adults with chronic liver disease, in either a surveillance programme or a clinical setting. We acknowledge the possibility that theoretically, the accuracy of the tests in a surveillance programme may differ from that in a clinical setting due to variation in inclusion criteria and the prevalence of the target condition. However, we do not plan a separate analysis for surveillance and clinical settings, as they are not clearly distinct in current clinical practice (Forner 2018; Poustchi 2011). In routine evaluation of people with chronic liver disease, index tests, as well as ultrasound, are already part of standard procedure. Given that HCC typically presents with no symptoms and is often asymptomatic, suspicion of the disease is typically based solely on the presence of advanced chronic liver disease. However, we do plan to consider the study setting as a potential source of heterogeneity. To compare the diagnostic accuracy of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) alone or GALAD alone versus alpha-foetoprotein (AFP), for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of any size, at any stage; in adults with chronic liver disease, either in a surveillance programme or a clinical setting. Secondary objectives To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of DCP or GALAD versus AFP, for resectable HCC in people with chronic liver disease, in a surveillance programme and a clinical setting. To investigate the following predefined sources of heterogeneity for each of the index tests: study design (case-control studies compared to cross-sectional studies); inclusion of participants without cirrhosis (studies including more than 10% of participants without cirrhosis compared to studies including less than 10% of participants without cirrhosis); study location (population differences): studies conducted in North and South America and Europe compared to Asia and Africa; prevalence of the target condition (studies with hepatocellular carcinoma prevalence more than 10% compared to studies with hepatocellular carcinoma prevalence less than 10%); participant selection (participants recruited from planned surveillance programmes compared to clinical cohorts); different reference standards (histology of the explanted liver compared to liver biopsy compared to another reference standard); different aetiology: studies including at least 90% of participants with chronic viral hepatitis compared to studies including less than 90% of participants with chronic viral hepatitis.

Pictorial review of hepatic echinococcosis: Ultrasound imaging and differential diagnosis

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasites belonging to the genus Echinococcus that primarily affect the liver. The western plateau and pastoral areas of China are high-risk regions for hepatic cystic echinococcosis and hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). The high late mortality rate associated with HAE underscores the critical need for early diagnosis to improve cure rates and mitigate the disease burden in endemic areas. Currently, the World Health Organization recommends ultrasonography as the preferred initial screening method for hepatic echinococcosis. However, distinguishing between specific types of lesions, such as those of hepatic cystic echinococcosis and HAE, and other focal liver lesions is challenging. To address this issue, contrast-enhanced ultrasound is recommended as a tool to differentiate solid and cysto-solid hepatic echinococcosis from other focal liver lesions, significantly enhancing diagnostic accuracy. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the progression of hepatic echinococcosis and detail the imaging features of various types of echinococcosis using conventional, contrast-enhanced, and intraoperative ultrasound techniques. Our objective is to provide robust imaging evidence and guidance for early diagnosis, clinical decision making, and postoperative follow-up in regions with high disease prevalence.

Ultrasonography of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Diagnosis to Prognosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prominent contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Early detection and diagnosis of liver cancer can significantly improve its prognosis and patient survival. Ultrasound technology, serving has undergone substantial advances as the primary method of HCC surveillance and has broadened its scope in recent years for effective management of HCC. This article is a comprehensive overview of ultrasound technology in the treatment of HCC, encompassing early detection, diagnosis, staging, treatment evaluation, and prognostic assessment. In addition, the authors summarized the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the diagnosis of HCC and assessment of prognosis. Finally, the authors discussed further directions in this field by emphasizing overcoming existing obstacles and integrating cutting-edge technologies.

Endoscopic ultrasound for the diagnosis and treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma

Chronic liver disease has emerged as a significant global concern, with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) representing a critical consequence of this disease. However, early detection of HCC remains challenging in clinical practice. Recently, there has been a growing interest in applying endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as a diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal diseases. Nevertheless, using EUS to diagnose and treat HCC is uncommon. In this review we described the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of EUS in primary HCC and evaluated its clinical significance. The diagnostic procedures primarily involve EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy or aspiration, assessment of metastatic lymph nodes and portal vein thrombosis, portal pressure monitoring, and portal vein blood collection. Treatment mainly includes EUS-guided tumor ablation, brachytherapy, injectable chemotherapy, and managing variceal hemorrhage related to portal hypertension.