Performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) compared to MRI in the diagnostic of gallbladder diseases.

BACKGROUND

Conventional ultrasound and MRI are very important techniques for the detection of gallbladder alterations. In the past years, studies showed that the additional use of contrast media to the conventional ultrasound allows the early depiction of pathological microvessels and their flow elucidating suspect findings stipulating the prompt therapy approach.

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to evaluate the performance of CEUS in gallbladder diseases and compare it to MR imaging using histopathological findings as a gold standard.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The retrospective mono-center study analysed 18 patients with gallbladder alterations between 2009 and 2017. All patients underwent CEUS and MRI examinations and all results were confirmed in the pathology. CEUS images were performed and interpreted by a single experienced physician.

RESULTS

CEUS imaging results compared to MR imaging of the gallbladder demonstrated a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93%, a positive predictive value of 67% and a negative predictive value of 100%.

CONCLUSION

CEUS enables the depiction and characterization of important vascularization's patterns facilitating the early differentiation between malignant and benign findings. In this study, CEUS displayed a better diagnostic accuracy than MRI proving to be a valuable additional tool to the established imaging modalities.