Purpose: To evaluate possibilities and limitations of CEUS in an outpatient centre.
Methods: During 01/2006 and 03/2007 96 patients (range: 26–72 years) were examined with CEUS
(Siemens Sequia with CPS/GE Logiq9 and SonoVue) in a radiological and a gastroenterological
praxis. 56 cases had a liver lesion, 7 had tumors or infarction of the kidney. The
quality of examination and their value were scored from 1–3.
Results: Good visibility of the interesting region was achievable in 89/96 cases. 12 FNH,
6 small HCCs, 15 metastases, and 6 hemangioma were diagnosed quickly by CEUS. 6/7
patients with focal fatty spots presumed to be a tumour in CT and/or US could be categorized
as benign by contrast. 2/15 patients with normal liver in US and/CT showed metastases
in CEUS. In kidney diseases CEUS was helpful in detecting small tumours and segmental
infarctions.
2 liver tumors in segment 7 and 8 were not visible although their localisation was
known from CT/US. One oncocytoma clearly seen in CT was not visible in CEUS.
Conclusions: CEUS for liver disease in private praxis is helpful for differentiating known solitary
liver tumours and focal fatty areas with comparable results to MR. In patients with
colon carcinoma (GIII, pT3, N1 or L1) additional CEUS ist mandantory for early detection
of resectable metastases. For kidney and thoracic disease CEUS is still under evaluation.
