Observational Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2019.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. May 15, 2019; 11(5): 436-448
Published online May 15, 2019. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v11.i5.436
Table 1 Comparison of B-mode ultrasound characteristics between hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm and hepatocellular carcinoma groups, n (%)
B-mode Ultrasound characteristicshNEN group, n = 55HCC group, n = 55t/χ2P value
Diameter in cm4.32 ± 1.383.91 ± 1.271.6210.108
Number of liver lesionsSingle19 (34.5)47 (85.5)29.6970.000
Multiple36 (65.5)8 (14.5)
Lesion propertySolid50 (90.9)47 (85.5)0.7850.376
Cyst5 (9.1)8 (14.5)
BoundaryClear29 (52.7)40 (72.7)4.7050.030
Unclear26 (47.3)15 (27.3)
Echo levelHigh28 (50.9)13 (23.6)9.4980.023
Low17 (30.9)24 (43.6)
Mixed10 (18.2)17 (30.9)
Equal0 (0.0)1 (1.8)
Echo uniformityUniform39 (70.9)26 (47.3)6.3560.012
Non-uniform16 (29.1)29 (52.7)
Posterior echo attenuationYes6 (10.9)2 (3.6)-0.2711
No49 (89.1)53 (96.4)
Peripheral acoustic haloYes13 (23.6)27 (49.1)7.7000.006
No42 (76.4)28 (50.9)
Table 2 Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristics between hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm group and hepatocellular carcinoma group, n (%)
Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound characteristicshNEN group, n = 55HCC group, n = 55t/χ2P value
Initial enhancement time in s16.23 ± 5.2916.52 ± 5.170.2910.772
Washout to iso-enhancement time in s26.91 ± 15.3947.26 ± 16.846.6150.000
Washout to hypo-enhancement time in s59.84 ± 37.9199.63 ± 61.825.0920.000
Enhancement level at arterial phaseHigh53 (96.4)55 (100)2.0370.154
Equal2 (3.6)0 (0)
Low0 (0)0 (0)
Enhancement level at portal venous phaseEqual7 (12.7)11 (20.0)1.0630.303
Low48 (87.3)44 (80.0)
Enhancement level at late phaseEqual2 (3.6)1 (1.8)0.3430.558
Low53 (96.4)54 (98.2)
Enhancement formsFast forward and fast out53 (96.4)51 (92.8)0.7050.401
Equal/slow forward and fast out2 (3.6)4 (7.2)
Enhancement formsUniform33 (60)39 (70.9)1.4470.229
Non-uniform22 (40)16 (29.1)
Tumor vasculatureYes34 (61.8)38 (69.1)0.6430.423
No21 (38.2)17 (30.9)
Tumor necrosisYes16 (29.1)19 (34.5)0.3770.539
No39 (70.9)36 (65.5)
Capsule enhancementYes7 (12.7)2 (3.6)3.0250.082
No48 (87.3)53 (96.4)
Table 3 Comparison of B-mode ultrasound characteristics transferred from different sources of hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm, n (%)
B-mode Ultrasound characteristicsgastrointestinal tract, n = 20Pancreas, n = 29Other sites, n = 6F/χ2P value
Diameter in cm3.24 ± 1.962.98 ± 1.953.41 ± 2.061.7720.163
Number of liver lesionsSingle7 (35)10 (34.5)2 (33.3)-1.0001
Multiple13 (65)19 (65.5)4 (66.7)
Lesion propertySolid19 (95.0)25 (86.0)6 (100.0)1.7810.410
Cyst1 (5.0)4 (13.8)0 (0)
BoundaryClear10 (50.0)15 (51.7)4 (66.47)-0.8561
Unclear10 (50.0)14(48.3)2 (16.7)
Echo levelHigh6 (30.0)17 (58.6)4 (66.7)-0.2281
Low10 (50.0)7 (24.1)1 (33.3)
Mixed4 (20.0)5 (17.2)1 (33.3)
Equal0 (0)0 (0)0 (0)
Echo uniformityUniform15 (75.0)20 (69.0)4 (66.7)-0.9161
Non-uniform5 (25.0)9 (31.0)2 (33.3)
Posterior echo attenuationYes2 (10.0)4 (13.8)0 (0)-1.0001
No18 (90.0)25 (86.2)6 (100.0)
Peripheral acoustic haloYes16 (80.0)21 (72.4)5 (83.3)-0.9001
No4 (20.0)8 (27.6)1 (16.7)
Table 4 Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristics transferred from different sources of hepatic neuroendocrine neoplasm, n (%)
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristicsGastrointestinal tract, n = 20Pancreas, n = 29Other sites, n = 6t/χ2P value
Initial enhancement time in s16.28 ± 5.8216.83 ± 6.1615.22 ± 4.921.3050.372
Washout to iso-enhancement time in s28.82 ± 12.3827.29 ± 14.922 1.83 ± 11.230.9240.477
Washout to hypo-enhancement time in s64.93 ± 36.2955.28 ± 31.8358.21 ± 29.650.8740.592
Enhancement level at arterial phaseHigh19 (95.0)28 (96.6)6 (100.0)0.3350.846
Equal1 (5.0)1 (3.4)0 (0)
Low0 (0)0 (0)0 (0)
Enhancement level at portal venous phaseEqual2 (10.0)5 (17.2)0 (0)-0.6101
Low18 (90.0)24 (82.8)6 (100.0)
Enhancement level at late phaseEqual1(5.0)1(3.4)0 (0)-1.0001
Low19 (95.0)28 (96.6)6 (100.0)
Enhancement formsFast forward and fast out19 (95.0)28 (96.6)6 (100.0)-1.0001
Equal/slow forward and fast out1 (5.0)1 (3.4)0 (0)
Enhancement formsUniform13 (65.0)16 (55.2)4 (66.7)-0.7291
Non-uniform7 (35.0)13 (44.8)2 (33.3)
Tumor vasculatureYes14 (70.0)17 (58.6)3 (50.0)-0.6671
No6 (30.0)12 (41.4)3 (50.0)
Tumor necrosisYes4 (20.0)10 (34.5)2 (33.3)-0.5691
No16 (80.0)19 (65.5)4 (66.7)
Capsule enhancementYes2 (10.0)4 (13.8)1 (16.7)-1.0001
No18 (90.0)25 (86.2)5 (83.3)
Table 5 Comparison of B-mode ultrasound characteristics between hepatic neuroendocrine tumor and hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma groups, n (%)
B-mode Ultrasound characteristicshNET group, n = 35hNEC group, n = 20t/χ2P value
Diameter in cm4.58 ± 2.915.08 ± 3.870.5430.590
Number of liver lesionsSingle12 (34.3)7 (35.0)0.0030.957
Multiple23 (65.7)13 (65.0)
Lesion propertySolid31 (88.6)19 (95.0)0.6360.425
Cyst4 (11.4)1 (5.0)
BoundaryClear18 (51.4)11 (55.0)0.0650.799
Unclear17 (48.6)9 (45.0)
Echo levelHigh19 (54.3)9 (45.0)0.4430.801
Low10 (28.6)7 (35.0)
Mixed6 (17.1)4 (20.0)
Equal0 (0)0 (0)
Echo uniformityUniform25 (71.4)14 (70.0)0.0130.911
Non-uniform10 (28.6)6 (30.0)
Posterior echo attenuationYes5 (14.3)1 (5.0)-0.3991
No30 (85.7)19 (95.0)
Peripheral acoustic haloYes9 (25.7)4 (20.0)-0.7491
No26 (74.3)16 (80.0)
Table 6 Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristics between hepatic neuroendocrine tumor and hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma groups, n (%)
Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound characteristicshNET group, n = 35hNEC group, n = 20t/χ2P value
Initial enhancement time in s16.83 ± 5.0816.28 ± 4.930.8340.854
Washout to iso-enhancement time in s30.84 ± 10.3827.68 ± 9.741.8560.804
Washout to hypo-enhancement time in s65.28 ± 37.8451.72 ± 31.851.1520.833
Enhancement level at arterial phaseHigh33 (94.3)20 (100.0)1.1860.276
Equal2 (5.7)0 (0)
Low0 (0)0 (0)
Enhancement level at portal venous phaseEqual7 (20.0)0 (0)4.5830.032
Low28 (80.0)20 (100.0)
Enhancement level at late phaseEqual1 (2.9)1 (5.0)-1.0001
Low34 (97.1)19 (95.0)
Enhancement formsFast forward and fast out34 (97.1)19 (95.0)-1.0001
Equal/slow forward and fast out1 (2.9)1 (5.0)
Enhancement formsUniform28 (80.0)5 (25.0)16.0420.000
Non-uniform7 (20.0)15 (75.0)
Tumor vasculatureYes15 (42.9)19 (95.0)14.6610.000
No20 (57.1)1 (5.0)
Tumor necrosisYes10 (28.6)6 (30.0)0.0130.911
No25 (71.4)14 (70.0)
Capsule enhancementYes6 (17.1)1 (5.0)-0.4021
No29 (82.9)19 (95.0)