News | Ultrasound Imaging | October 19, 2017

Study of over 200 patients found CEUS achieve correct diagnosis with 97 percent accuracy, without radiation and at lower cost

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Safe and Effective Detector of Liver Cancer

October 19, 2017 — Doctors can effectively detect liver cancer with ultrasound and tiny microbubbles, according to a study announced at the International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) 32nd Annual Conference, Oct. 5-6 in Chicago. This technique allows detection without radiation, expensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment or biopsies.

The imaging technique, known as contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), "is an exciting option because it provides a more cost-effective and less-invasive way for accurately characterizing the tumor," said Stephanie Wilson, M.D., a professor of radiology at the University of Calgary and study author.

The study of over 200 patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common liver cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, found that CEUS imaging using the microbubbles allowed for the correct diagnosis with 97 percent accuracy.

CEUS uses liquid suspensions of tiny gas microbubbles to improve the clarity and reliability of an ultrasound image. The microbubbles are smaller than red blood cells and, when they are injected into a patient's arm vein, they flow through the microcirculation and reflect ultrasound signals, improving the accuracy of diagnostic ultrasound exams. The microbubbles are expelled from the body within minutes.

Steven Feinstein, M.D., a professor of medicine at Rush University in Chicago, said the study validates the vast benefits of using microbubble ultrasound contrast agents as a safe, convenient and effective diagnostic imaging tool. "The findings are extremely exciting and demonstrate that CEUS imaging improves patient care without exposing individuals to tissue diagnosis or ionizing radiation,” Feinstein added.

Wilson’s study utilized the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS), a tool radiologists use to classify liver tumors using computed tomography (CT), MR and CEUS imaging in patients with suspected liver cancer. Additional prospective studies are expected according to Yuko Kono, M.D., a professor of hepatology and gastroenterology at the University of California San Diego and a leader in the CEUS imaging field.

For more information: www.icus-society.org


Related Content

News | Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Aug. 12, 2025 —Sonic Incytes Medical Corp, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted ...

Time August 15, 2025
arrow
News | RSNA

Aug. 13, 2025 — Registration is now open for the RSNA 111th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, the world’s leading ...

Time August 13, 2025
arrow
News | Ultrasound Women's Health

Aug. 13, 2025 — Ultrasound AI has published the latest findings from its PAIR (Perinatal Artificial Intelligence in ...

Time August 13, 2025
arrow
News | Radiology Imaging

Aug. 12, 2025 – Medical imaging methods such as ultrasound and MRI are often affected by background noise, which can ...

Time August 12, 2025
arrow
News | Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

July 24, 2025 — Fujifilm Sonosite, Inc., a leader in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) solutions, has announced a new ...

Time July 24, 2025
arrow
News | FDA

July 8, 2025 — Mendaera, Inc., a healthcare technology company focused on developing robotics that can be deployed ...

Time July 08, 2025
arrow
News | Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

June 17, 2025 — Royal Philips has announced the global launch of the Flash Ultrasound System 5100 POC — a new point-of ...

Time June 19, 2025
arrow
News | Lung Imaging

June 18, 2025 — Exo recently announced that now included on its Exo Iris is the first ever FDA 510(k) cleared AI for ...

Time June 18, 2025
arrow
News | Artificial Intelligence

April 16, 2025 — An artificial intelligence (AI) program trained to review images from a common medical test can detect ...

Time April 16, 2025
arrow
News | Ultrasound Women's Health

April 11, 2025 — Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a safe and accurate diagnostic imaging option for pregnant women ...

Time April 11, 2025
arrow
Subscribe Now