Role of sonoelastography and triphasic CT scan in focal liver lesions: A cross-sectional study.

DR SYED HALEEM HAIDER ABIDI; DR AHMAD RIZWAN KARIM; DR KHUSHBOO MUSTAFI

doi:10.51168/vxa6r494

Authors

Dr. Syed Haleem Haider Abidi Junior Resident Department - Radiodiagnosis College - KATIHAR MEDICAL COLLEGE, Katihar, Bihar, India
Dr. Ahmad Rizwan Karim Head of Department Department - Radiodiagnosis College - KATIHAR MEDICAL COLLEGE, Katihar, Bihar, India
Dr. Khushboo Mustafi Junior Resident Department - Anaesthesia College - University college of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/vxa6r494

Keywords:

Diagnostic efficacy, Focal liver lesion, Imaging modalities, Sonoelastography, Triphasic computed tomography (CT) scan

Abstract

Background

Focal liver lesions (FLL) range from benign entities to malignant tumours, and accurate characterisation is essential for management decisions. This study assessed the diagnostic utility of sonoelastography (SE) and triphasic computed tomography (CT) in evaluating FLL, comparing their diagnostic efficacy and correlation with histopathological findings.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, from July 2022 to December 2024, involving 60 patients with clinically suspected FLL. All patients underwent SE using shear wave elastography and triphasic CT. Diagnostic parameters (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy) were calculated and compared against histopathological examination (HPE), the reference standard.

Results

The mean age was 48.0 ± 17.2 years, with a male predominance (83.3%). Amoebic abscess and metastasis were the most common diagnoses (25.0% each), followed by hemangioma and hepatocellular carcinoma (16.7% each). Overall, 30 lesions (50.0%) were benign and 30 (50.0%) were malignant. Arterial-phase peripheral rim hyperenhancement (30.0%) and delayed-phase hypoenhancement (50.0%) were the commonest CT patterns. SE stiffness values greater than 2.44 m/s were strongly suggestive of malignancy. Triphasic CT showed 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy against HPE.

Conclusion

SE and triphasic CT are complementary, reliable, non-invasive modalities for characterising FLL. Triphasic CT demonstrated excellent diagnostic accuracy, while SE provided additional stiffness-based information; together, they improve diagnostic confidence and may reduce reliance on invasive biopsy.

Recommendation

Triphasic CT combined with SE should be considered as a first-line, non-invasive strategy for the diagnostic work-up of FLL, with further validation in larger, prospective, multicentric studies before wider adoption into routine clinical protocols.

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