Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
Background and Aims: Elastography can provide information regarding tissue stiffness (TS). This study aimed to analyze the elastographic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the factors that influence intratumoral elastographic variability in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: This pr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/8/1710 |
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| author | Ana-Maria Ghiuchici Ioan Sporea Mirela Dănilă Roxana Șirli Tudor Moga Felix Bende Alina Popescu |
| author_facet | Ana-Maria Ghiuchici Ioan Sporea Mirela Dănilă Roxana Șirli Tudor Moga Felix Bende Alina Popescu |
| author_sort | Ana-Maria Ghiuchici |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Aims: Elastography can provide information regarding tissue stiffness (TS). This study aimed to analyze the elastographic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the factors that influence intratumoral elastographic variability in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: This prospective study included 115 patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma evaluated between June 2016–November 2019. A total of 88 HCC nodules visualized in conventional abdominal ultrasound (US) met the inclusion criteria and underwent elastographic evaluation. Elastographic measurements (EM) were performed in HCC and liver parenchyma using VTQ (Virtual Touch Quantification), a point shear wave elastography (pSWE) technique. In all patients, we performed contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and the final diagnosis of HCC was established by contrast-enhanced-CT or contrast-enhanced-MRI. Results: The mean VTQ values in HCCs were 2.16 ± 0.75 m/s. TS was significantly lower in HCCs than in the surrounding liver parenchyma 2.16 ± 0.75 m/s vs. 2.78 ± 0.92 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). We did not find significant differences between the first five and the last five EM, and the intra-observer reproducibility was excellent ICC: 0.902 (95% CI: 0.87–0.950). However, the tumor size, heterogeneity, and depth correlated with higher intralesional stiffness variability (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: VTQ brings additional information for HCC characterization. Intra-observer reproducibility for both HCC and liver parenchyma was excellent. Knowing the stiffness of HCC’s might endorse an algorithm-based approach towards focal liver lesions (FLLs) in liver cirrhosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:17:10Z |
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| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:17:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ca691148758468d9bef6d52be31151c2023-11-21T15:44:45ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-04-01108171010.3390/jcm10081710Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma?Ana-Maria Ghiuchici0Ioan Sporea1Mirela Dănilă2Roxana Șirli3Tudor Moga4Felix Bende5Alina Popescu6Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, RomaniaBackground and Aims: Elastography can provide information regarding tissue stiffness (TS). This study aimed to analyze the elastographic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the factors that influence intratumoral elastographic variability in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: This prospective study included 115 patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma evaluated between June 2016–November 2019. A total of 88 HCC nodules visualized in conventional abdominal ultrasound (US) met the inclusion criteria and underwent elastographic evaluation. Elastographic measurements (EM) were performed in HCC and liver parenchyma using VTQ (Virtual Touch Quantification), a point shear wave elastography (pSWE) technique. In all patients, we performed contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and the final diagnosis of HCC was established by contrast-enhanced-CT or contrast-enhanced-MRI. Results: The mean VTQ values in HCCs were 2.16 ± 0.75 m/s. TS was significantly lower in HCCs than in the surrounding liver parenchyma 2.16 ± 0.75 m/s vs. 2.78 ± 0.92 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). We did not find significant differences between the first five and the last five EM, and the intra-observer reproducibility was excellent ICC: 0.902 (95% CI: 0.87–0.950). However, the tumor size, heterogeneity, and depth correlated with higher intralesional stiffness variability (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: VTQ brings additional information for HCC characterization. Intra-observer reproducibility for both HCC and liver parenchyma was excellent. Knowing the stiffness of HCC’s might endorse an algorithm-based approach towards focal liver lesions (FLLs) in liver cirrhosis.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/8/1710hepatocellular carcinomaelastographyvirtual touch quantificationliver cirrhosis |
| spellingShingle | Ana-Maria Ghiuchici Ioan Sporea Mirela Dănilă Roxana Șirli Tudor Moga Felix Bende Alina Popescu Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma? Journal of Clinical Medicine hepatocellular carcinoma elastography virtual touch quantification liver cirrhosis |
| title | Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma? |
| title_full | Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma? |
| title_fullStr | Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma? |
| title_short | Is There a Place for Elastography in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma? |
| title_sort | is there a place for elastography in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma |
| topic | hepatocellular carcinoma elastography virtual touch quantification liver cirrhosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/8/1710 |
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