Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in Atypical Liver Nodules in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease

March 20, 2023 updated by: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Improves Characterization of Atypical Liver Nodules in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease

The present study aims to investigate the role of CEUS in evaluating liver lesions with atypical characteristics on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI. All patients enrolled in the study underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Based on CEUS characteristics, atypical nodules will be categorized according to CEUS LI-RADS classification.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This retrospective study investigates the role of CEUS in evaluating liver lesions with atypical characteristics on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI. All patients enrolled in the study underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound. All CEUS exams were performed, recorded, and analyzed by two experienced operators (>10 years of experience with abdominal US and CEUS). Based on CEUS characteristics, atypical nodules will be categorized according to CEUS LI-RADS (LR) classification. If the analyzed nodule shows a typical hallmark on CEUS (LR-5), that is arterial phase hyperenhancement with late-onset (>60 s) washout of mild intensity, it is definitively considered HCC and have been treated appropriately. Categories LR-3 and LR-4 comprise nodules with different combinations of arterial and venous phase enhancement features, expected to correspond to an intermediate or high probability of lesions to be HCC. Patients with LR-3 or LR-4 nodules underwent follow-up; in some cases they underwent biopsy.

LR-M is used to classify high-probability malignant lesions but nonspecific for HCC; these nodules underwent biopsy for further characterization.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • RM
      • Roma, RM, Italy, 00168
        • Fondazione Policlinico A Gemelli IRCCS

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients followed for liver cirrhosis or chronic liver disease with increased risk of HCC (HBV-related hepatopathy or fibrosis F3) and diagnosed with liver atypical nodules on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • diagnosis of liver cirrhosis or chronic liver disease with increased risk of HCC
  • diagnosis of atypical nodules on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI

Exclusion Criteria:

  • less than 18 years of age
  • pregnancy
  • typical nodules on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI
  • non-visualized nodule on B-mode US
  • CEUS not performed or performed more than three months after CT or MRI

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The role of CEUS in evaluating atypic liver lesions on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI.
Time Frame: Between January 2018 and January 2023
The primary endpoint is to assess the contrastographic behaviour of nodules suspected of HCC and defined as atypical by contrast-enhanced CT and MRI, using CEUS. Prevalence of CEUS LI-RADS categories among atypical nodules will be described.
Between January 2018 and January 2023

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 31, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

January 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 6, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 6, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

March 16, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 22, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 20, 2023

Last Verified

March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 4288

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Subscribe