Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Liver Metastasis From Breast Cancer

Purpose To investigate the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in detecting liver metastasis from breast cancer. Materials and Methods CEUS and contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) were performed on 89 cases with suspected liver metastasis from breast cancer by conventional ultrasound. Diagnosis of liver metastasis was confirmed by biopsy,operation,pathology and follow-up imaging examinations for more than half a year. Results Of 48 cases with liver metastasis from breast cancer,47 cases were correctly diagnosed by CEUS. In 89 cases with suspected liver metastasis from breast cancer by conventional ultrasound,41 cases were correctly rule out by CEUS. The sensitivity,false negative rate,specificity,positive and negative predictive value of CEUS in the detecting liver metastasis from breast cancer were 97.92% (47/48),2.08% (1/48),100% (41/41),100% (47/47) and 97.62%(41/42),respectively. Ten added metastatic lesions were found by CEUS. With CEUS the diagnostic accuracy increased from 53.93% to 98.88% compared with the conventional ultrasound. No significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy of liver metastasis from breast cancer was found between the CEUS and CECT (P=0.833). Conclusion Small hepatic metastasis from breast cancer can be detected by the CEUS. CEUS further improves the diagnostic accuracy and differentiation of liver metastasis from breast cancer.