Real-time contrast-enhanced specific ultrasound in staging and follow-up of splenic lymphomas.

From January 2003 to April 2005 we studied 25 lymphoma patients (10 with HD, 4 with low-grade NHL, 6 with high-grade NHL and 5 with chronic lymphatic leukaemia; 14 men, 11 women, age range 28-79 years). After a baseline US study we rapidly injected 4.8 mL of the second-generation microbubble contrast agent SonoVue (Bracco, Italy). Contrast enhanced studies were carried out with the contrast-specific software named Contrast Tuned Imaging (Esaote, Italy) using a continuous, harmonic acquisition and a low acoustic pressure. The CS-US findings were correlated with results of standard tools, including CT, MRI, US follow up. CS-US revealed correctly 47 out of the 52 lesions identified by CT scan, in the absence of false positive findings (sensitivity = 90%; Specificity = 100%, in comparison to CT scan). Complete concordance in evaluating the lesion extension of the CS-US in respect to CT was 88%, while underestimate occurred in 9% and overestimate in 3% of cases. On the contrary, basic sonography defined correctly the dimensional alteration in 52% of the cases, underestimated in 35% and overestimated in 13%, thus showing significantly lower accuracy (chi-square = 30.0, p < 0.001). In our experience, CS-US was superior to conventional sonography even from a qualitative point of view.