INTRODUCTION: Bladder cancer ranks 4th overall in the number of newly diagnosed cancers and 10th in causes of cancer deaths. More than 90% of all cases of bladder cancer are transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). The goal of this study is to confirm the usefulness of low mechanical index contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), also in association with time-intensity curves, in the differentiation between high- and low-grade bladder malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2006 to February 2012 we recruited 144 patients. All patients underwent grayscale ultrasonography (US), color-Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). Subsequently all patients underwent cystoscopy and TURB. RESULTS: HISTOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES WERE: 88 high-grade carcinomas (61.1%), and 56 low-grade carcinomas (38.9%). Sensitivity and specificity of CDUS were 87.5% (126/144) and 60%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were 90.9% and 85.7%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of TIC were 91.6% (132/144) and 85.7%, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is a reliable noninvasive method for differentiating low- and high-grade bladder carcinomas since it provides typical enhancement patterns as well as specific contrast-sonographic perfusion curves.
INTRODUCTION:Bladder cancer ranks 4th overall in the number of newly diagnosed cancers and 10th in causes of cancer deaths. More than 90% of all cases of bladder cancer are transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). The goal of this study is to confirm the usefulness of low mechanical index contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), also in association with time-intensity curves, in the differentiation between high- and low-grade bladder malignant lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2006 to February 2012 we recruited 144 patients. All patients underwent grayscale ultrasonography (US), color-Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). Subsequently all patients underwent cystoscopy and TURB. RESULTS: HISTOLOGICAL DIAGNOSES WERE: 88 high-grade carcinomas (61.1%), and 56 low-grade carcinomas (38.9%). Sensitivity and specificity of CDUS were 87.5% (126/144) and 60%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of CEUS were 90.9% and 85.7%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of TIC were 91.6% (132/144) and 85.7%, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is a reliable noninvasive method for differentiating low- and high-grade bladder carcinomas since it provides typical enhancement patterns as well as specific contrast-sonographic perfusion curves.
Authors: Anna Maria Cianciulli; Costantino Leonardo; Fiorella Guadagni; Raffaella Marzano; Francesco Iori; Cosimo De Nunzio; Giorgio Franco; Roberta Merola; Cesare Laurenti Journal: Hum Pathol Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 3.466
Authors: F M Drudi; V Cantisani; M Liberatore; F Iori; S M Erturk; C Cristini; G Di Pierro; U D'Ambrosio; F Malpassini; C De Felice; N Di Leo Journal: Ultraschall Med Date: 2010-05-06 Impact factor: 6.548