Objective:

To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) real-time navigation technology in the detection of small liver cancer.

Methods:

The ultrasonic images of 40 intrahepatic lesions in 31 patients with clinically suspected small liver cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Before real-time navigation

enhanced MRI showed that there were enhanced lesions in the liver

and the maximum diameter of a single lesion was 20 mm. To compare the difference between conventional ultrasound and real-time navigation in the detection rate of small liver cancer

and analyze the factors affecting the detection rate of real-time navigation.

Results:

Among the 40 intrahepatic lesions

9 lesions were confirmed by surgery or biopsy

and 31 lesions were confirmed by comprehensive clinical diagnosis. All patients underwent CEUS combined with MRI real-time navigation examination

and the fusion success rate was 100.0%. The detection rate of intrahepatic lesions by conventional ultrasound was 32.5% (13/40) and that by real-time navigation was 92.5% (37/40)

and the difference in detection rate between the two was statistically significant (P＜0.05). In the groups of small liver cancer lesions ofdifferent sizes

the detection rates of real-time navigation were 88.9% (16/18

6-10 mm)

100.0% (16/16

11-15 mm) and 83.3% (5/6

16-20 mm)

respectively

and the detection rates of intrahepatic lesions of different sizes by real-time navigation were not statistically significant (

P

=0.359). In the groups of small liver cancer lesions in different liver lobes

the detection rates of real-time navigation were 100.0% (2/2) in the caudate lobe

100.0% (7/7) in the left lateral lobe

100.0% (8/8) in the left medial lobe

81.8% (9/11) in the right anterior lobe and 91.7% (11/12) in the right posterior lobe

respectively

and there was no statistical significance in the detection rate of intrahepatic lesions in different liver lobes by real-time navigation (

P

=0.658). In the groups of small liver cancer lesions with different echo types

the detection rates of real-time navigation were 88.9% (24/27

iso-echoic) and 100.0% (1

3/13

slightly lower echo and hypo-echoic)

respectively

and there was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate of intrahepatic lesions of different echo types by real-time navigation (

P

=0.538).

Conclusion:

CEUS combined with MRI real-time navigation technology helps to improve the detection rate of small liver cancer.