Differentiating malignant and benign focal liver lesions in children using CEUS LI-RADS combined with serum alpha-fetoprotein

Table 1 The clinical characteristics of enrolled 60 patients

Characteristics	All Patients (n = 60)	Patients with malignant lesions (n = 20)	Patients with benign lesions (n = 40)	P value2
Age, yr; mean ± SD, (range)	11.0 ± 5.2 (0-18)	9.7 ± 5.4 (0-18)	11.7 ± 5.1 (0-18)	0.98
Gender, n (%)				0.54
Male	26 (43.3)	10 (50.0)	16 (40.0)
Female	34 (56.7)	10 (50.0)	24 (60.0)
AFP level (ng/mL), n (%)				< 0.05
AFP > 20	14 (23.3)	12 (60.0)	2 (5.0)
AFP < 20	46 (76.7)	8 (40.0)	38 (95.0)
High-risk factors1				0.24
High risk for HCC1	14 (23.3)	7 (35.0)	7 (17.5)
No high risk for HCC1	46 (76.7)	13 (75.0)	33 (82.5)

¹High risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in focal liver lesions in contrast-enhanced ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system included cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B viral infection, and current or prior HCC.

²P values showed whether there were significant differences in age, gender, alpha-fetoprotein level or high-risk factors between the benign and malignant groups.

Note-data are numbers of patients with percentages in parentheses. AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.