Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Better Identifies Pancreatic Tumor Vascularization than Helical CT

Vol. 5, No. 4-5, 2005

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Original Paper

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Better Identifies Pancreatic Tumor Vascularization than Helical CT
Mirko D'Onofrio^a, Roberto Malagò^a, Giulia Zamboni^a, Simone Vasori^a, Massimo Falconi^b, Paola Capelli^c, Giancarlo Mansueto^a

Departments of
^aRadiology,
^bSurgery and
^cPathology, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Pancreatology 2005;5:398-402 (DOI: 10.1159/000086540)

Key Words

Pancreatic tumors
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography
Helical computed tomography
Angiogenesis
Microvessel density

Abstract

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a recently introduced field of ultrasonography (US). To assess the ability of CEUS to identify the vascularization of solid pancreatic tumors in comparison to helical CT. Methods: Forty-two resected pancreatic tumors, found at US, were studied with CEUS and helical CT. The tumor enhancement at CEUS was scored in comparison to the baseline aspect of the lesion and/or the extralesional pancreatic parenchyma together with the adjacent vessels during the dynamic study. All the lesions underwent pathological examination using H&E stains and CD34 markers with an evaluation of the microvessel density (MVD). The correlation of CEUS and helical CT with the MVD of the lesions was established with Spearman's test. Results: The correlation of CEUS with the MVD of the lesions was significantly superior (Rs = 0.914; p < 0.0001) to that of helical CT (Rs = 0.635; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: CEUS is better than helical CT in the identification of the vascularization of solid pancreatic tumors. CEUS, when the pancreatic gland is optimally visualized, should be therefore considered a complementary imaging modality in the characterization of pancreatic tumors. CEUS can be a valid onco-imaging modality for quantifying tumoral vascularization in a noninvasive and accurate way.

Author Contacts

Mirko D'Onofrio
Department of Radiology
University Hospital E.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro 10
IT-37134 Verona (Italy)
Tel. +39 045 582445, Fax +39 045 8277808, E-Mail mirkodonofrio@libero.it

Article Information

Received: July 19, 2004
Accepted after revision: November 16, 2004
Published online: June 28, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 17

Medline Abstract (ID 15985763)

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