Ultraschall Med 2007; 28 - V_5_5
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-988971

Improved differentiation of pancreatic tumours using contrast enhanced transabdominal ultrasound

A Ignee 1, B Braden 2, G Schuessler 1, M Hocke 3, M Ott 4, CF Dietrich 1
  • 1Caritas Hospital, Medical Department 2, Bad Mergentheim, Germany
  • 2John Radcliffe Hospital, Medical Department, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • 3Friedrich Schiller University, Department of Internal Medicine II, Jena, Germany
  • 4Caritas Hospital, Pathological department, Bad Mergentheim, Germany

Aim: Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a new imaging method for detection and characterisation of liver tumours. The role of CEUS in pancreatic disease is less obvious. We prospectively evaluated CEUS for characterization of histologically proven solid pancreatic tumours.

Methods: 112 solitary undetermined pancreatic masses (70 ductal adenocarcinoma and 42 neoplastic nodules of other origin) were prospectively examined in patients without metastatic disease using transabdominal ultrasound. Tumour enhancing features were analyzed in comparison to the surrounding pancreatic parenchyma in patients with adequate visualisation.

Results: The sign of iso- hypervascularity as a sign of benign tumours showed a sensitivity of 100%, specifity of 90% and accuracy of 94%. The sign of hypovascularity as a sign of malignant tumours showed a sensitivity of 90%, specifity of 100% and an accuracy of 94%.

Conclusion: CEUS allows differential diagnosis of ductal adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumours and (microcystic) serous pancreatic adenoma in most cases.