Artificial Intelligence and Image Analysis-Assisted Diagnosis for Fibrosis Stage of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Using Ultrasonography: A Pilot Study.

Background/objectives: Elastography increased the diagnostic accuracy of liver fibrosis. However, several challenges persist, including the widespread utilization of equipment, difficulties in measuring certain cases, and the influence of viscosity factors. A rough surface and a blunted hepatic margin have long been acknowledged as valuable characteristics indicative of hepatic fibrosis.

Assessment of drainage vein of focal nodular hyperplasia using contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Purpose: Identification of drainage vessels is useful for differential diagnosis of hepatic tumors. Direct drainage to the hepatic vein has been reported to occur in focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), but studies evaluating the drainage veins of FNH are limited. We aimed to investigate the detection rate of the FNH drainage vein and the factors related to visualization of the drainage vein on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for blood flow detection in hepatocellular carcinoma during lenvatinib therapy.

Purpose: Blood flow reduction after initiation of lenvatinib therapy may not always indicate tumor necrosis. This study aimed to compare the blood flow detectability of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during lenvatinib therapy.

Methods: A total of 12 cases underwent CEUS and contrast-enhanced CT/MRI within 2 weeks during lenvatinib therapy.

Comparison of local recurrence in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma with or without accumulation of iodized oil beyond corona enhancement area: Short-term results.

Background: Local tumor recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often occurs in blood drainage areas. Corona enhancement is determined by computed tomography during hepatic arteriography (CTHA) and is considered to represent the blood drainage area. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between embolization of corona enhancement area and local tumor recurrence of patients with HCC who underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

A Case of Pseudoprogression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab.

A 74-year-old man was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. The tumor in the liver showed a complete response after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, but lung, bone, and lymph node metastases were observed, so treatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab was initiated. After administration, the scans showed tumor growth, but after continuous administration of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, the tumors finally reduced in size and showed a partial response.

Ultrasonographic grayscale findings related to fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: comparison with transient elastography and Fib-4 index.

Purpose: Fibrosis is a predictor of mortality in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In our institution, abdominal ultrasonography has been performed based on a unified method consisting of 25 images. We investigated ultrasonographic grayscale findings related to fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Quantitative Ultrasound Image Analysis Helps in the Differentiation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) From Borderline Lesions and Predicting the Histologic Grade of HCC and Microvascular Invasion.

Objectives: Quantitative image analysis is one of the methods to overcome the lack of objectivity of ultrasound (US). The aim of this study was to clarify the correlation between the features from a US image analysis and the histologic grade and microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and differentiation of HCC smaller than 2 cm from borderline lesions.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed grayscale US images with histopathologic evidence of HCC or a precancerous lesion using ImageJ version 1.

New algorithm using L1 regularization for measuring electron energy spectra.

Retrieving the spectrum of physical radiation from experimental measurements typically involves using a mathematical algorithm to deconvolve the instrument response function from the measured signal. However, in the field of signal processing known as "Source Separation" (SS), which refers to the process of computationally retrieving the separate source components that generate an overlapping signal on the detector, the deconvolution process can become an ill-posed problem and crosstalk complicates the separation of the individual sources. To overcome this problem, we have designed a magnetic spectrometer for inline electron energy spectrum diagnosis and developed an analysis algorithm using techniques applicable to the problem of SS.

The influence of esophagogastroduodenoscopy using carbon dioxide insufflation on abdominal ultrasonographic imaging efficiency.

Purpose: The ability to perform abdominal ultrasonography after esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is hypothesized to improve examination efficiency. Therefore, we performed abdominal ultrasonography before and after EGD to verify the effects of EGD on abdominal ultrasonographic imaging efficiency.

Methods: We performed abdominal ultrasonography before, immediately after, 30 min after, and 60 min after EGD with carbon dioxide (CO) insufflation in 23 consecutive patients who visited our center between July 2015 and December 2016.

Hepatic hemangioma supplied by abnormal portal vein: A case report.

Hepatic hemangioma is the most common hepatic tumor with a prevalence of approximately 3%. It is typically supplied by the hepatic artery as evident from findings of abdominal angiography, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. However, few cases of hepatic hemangioma supplied by the portal vein have been reported.

Renal vein dilation predicts poor outcome in patients with refractory cirrhotic ascites.

Aim: Renal venous hypertension is known to be associated with worsening of renal function in patients with decompensated heart failure. Intra-abdominal hypertension including cirrhotic ascites also leads to renal venous hypertension. We aimed to clarify the effect of renal venous hypertension on cirrhotic ascites.

Solitary Variceal Rupture in the Small Intestine.

A 70-year-old man was referred to our hospital to undergo treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. In hospital, he complained of hematochezia and a laboratory analysis revealed a decreased level of hemoglobin. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a tumor in the small intestine, with slow enhancement of the dorsal region.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic findings of serum amyloid A-positive hepatocellular neoplasm: Does hepatocellular adenoma arise in cirrhotic liver?

Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) was recently classified into four pathological subtypes. There have been few studies describing the findings of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of each type. Our case concerns a 78-year-old man who had undergone routine medical check-ups for hepatitis C for 11 years.

Focal nodular hyperplasia: our experience of 53 Japanese cases.

Purpose: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a very sensitive diagnostic tool in characterizing liver tumors. It is especially useful in the diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) of the liver. According to the previous reports, FNH is common in young women, and it is usually diagnosed by MRI.

Onset of Tuberculosis from a Pulmonary Latent Tuberculosis Infection during Antiviral Triple Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C.

A 62-year-old man was diagnosed with the onset of tuberculosis (Tb) from a pulmonary latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) during triple therapy with pegylated interferon α2a, ribavirin, and telaprevir for a chronic hepatitis C infection in 2013 before interferon (IFN)-free anti-viral therapy was introduced in Japan. A liver biopsy before IFN treatment revealed the presence of epithelioid cell granulomas (ECGs). IFN may also be employed for chronic hepatitis B infection and malignant tumors, thus, special attention must be paid to the development of Tb from a LTBI when ECGs are observed before treatment.

Sarcomatoid Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Spontaneous Intraperitoneal Bleeding.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with right hypochondralgia. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a well-circumscribed round lesion in segments 5 and 6 of the liver. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) indicated that the tumor was enhanced in the arterial phase, changing to hypo-enhanced 30 seconds following contrast injection.