Liver tumours, 40% of which are benign, account for 1% to 4% of all solid tumours in children. The benign tumours are mainly haemangiomas, liver hamartomas, and liver cell adenomas. The malignant tumours are mainly hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), malignant liver mesothelioma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. The differential diagnosis of liver masses in children is generally based on the child's age, the clinical evaluation (including alpha-fetoprotein test results), and imaging characteristics.
Liver tumours seldom produce clear symptoms and signs in the early stages, and they progress rapidly. As a result, most liver tumours are not diagnosed until the middle or late stages. To improve survival among patients with liver tumours, clinicians must find the liver tumours as early as possible and determine whether the tumours are benign or malignant. Conventional ultrasonography is commonly used for screening, and is preferred as the first-line imaging technique for children. Not only does it have a wide range of applications and a high diagnostic yield, but it is well accepted by patients and their parents. It can be performed in the examination room with the parents present, allowing real-time imaging and direct interaction with patient and parents.
CEUS is a non-invasive imaging technology that can continuously and dynamically observe blood perfusion in tumours in real-time through injection of a contrast agent to enhance the blood flow reflux signal in the human body. Consequently, CEUS is useful for visualising capillaries and tissue perfusion in the human body.
The purpose of this current study is to evaluate the use of Sonazoid™ perfluorobutane (PFB) microbubbles as a contrast medium for CEUS for evaluation of solitary liver masses in children.
The subject is <18 years of age on the day of consent.
The subject has at least 1 untreated FLL with ≤8 lesions (excluding cysts), with ≤8 cm confirmed in a diagnostic examination performed in the past month (or past 3 months if the lesion was benign) and that could also be visualised when obtained via unenhanced ultrasound imaging
The subject has had a dynamic CECT or CEMRI examination within the past month or is scheduled to have one in the month following inclusion in the study, and these images are/would be available.
The subject can comply with study procedures.
The subject has a known or suspected hypersensitivity to any of the components of Sonazoid™, including a history of allergies to eggs or egg products (i.e., manifested by full body rash, respiratory difficulty, oral or laryngeal swelling, hypotension, or shock).
The subject has an acute clinically fatal condition (i.e., the expected survival is ≤6 months).
The subject has previously received Sonazoid™ or another ultrasound contrast agent within the past 30 days.
The subject had undergone or is planning to undergo an examination with a contrast agent (i.e., iodinated x-ray contrast agent, MRI contrast agent or another ultrasound contrast agent) within the 24 hours before or after Sonazoid™ injection.
Single group
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
Diagnostic testFollowing unenhanced (pre-contrast) ultrasound imaging of the target focal liver lesions (FLL), Sonazoid™ will be intravenously administered and a contrast-enhanced examination will be performed.
Accuracy of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during the vascular phase of imaging
Accuracy of the diagnosis based on the independent blinded read of the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging for lesion differentiation (benign or malignant FLLs) during vascular phase imaging. The WFUMB-EFSUMB guidelines for interpreting CEUS of the liver in adults shall be used for interpreting the images and the subject's baseline diagnosis (well-established by CECT, CEMRI or biopsy) will be used as the reference diagnosis/standard of truth.
Sensitivity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during the vascular phase of imaging
Sensitivity of the diagnosis based on the independent blinded read of the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging for lesion differentiation (benign or malignant FLLs) during vascular phase imaging. The WFUMB-EFSUMB guidelines for interpreting CEUS of the liver in adults shall be used for interpreting the images and the subject's baseline diagnosis (well-established by CECT, CEMRI or biopsy) will be used as the reference diagnosis/standard of truth.
Specificity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during the vascular phase of imaging
Specificity of the diagnosis based on the independent blinded read of the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging for lesion differentiation (benign or malignant FLLs) during vascular phase imaging. The WFUMB-EFSUMB guidelines for interpreting CEUS of the liver in adults shall be used for interpreting the images and the subject's baseline diagnosis (well-established by CECT, CEMRI or biopsy) will be used as the reference diagnosis/standard of truth.
Comparison of accuracy of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular phase
Accuracy of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Comparison of accuracy of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular and Kupffer phase
Accuracy of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase and Kupffer phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Comparison of sensitivity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular phase
Sensitivity of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
Comparison of sensitivity of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound to Unenhanced ultrasound at imaging focal liver lesions during vascular and Kupffer phase
Sensitivity of the diagnosis (benign or malignant FLL) based on the Sonazoid™-enhanced imaging by vascular phase and Kupffer phase imaging, as compared with the unenhanced ultrasound imaging, when the baseline diagnosis is used as the reference standard.
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