High correlation between microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasound, magnetic resonance and histopathology in the evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of microbubble contrast ultrasound in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and to compare its results with those of magnetic resonance and histopathology. METHODS: A total of 29 patients suffering from chronic liver diseases and awaiting liver transplants at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein were subject to magnetic resonance, microbubble contrast ultrasound, and excision liver biopsies. RESULTS: Excellent agreement between magnetic resonance and microbubble contrast ultrasound was observed in this study. There was moderate agreement between both imaging methods and histopathology results. CONCLUSION: Microbubble contrast ultrasound was as accurate as magnetic resonance to evaluate hepatocellular carcinoma. These results were confirmed by comparing both methods to histopathological diagnosis.