BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis and prognosis of lymphoma based on PET-CT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study included 88 superficial lymph nodes and 63 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided biopsy or surgery for pathology from October 2015 to March 2017. All lymph nodes were assessed by CEUS and PET-CT. CEUS and PET-CT parameters were recorded, including arrive time (AT), time to peak (TTP), base intensity (BI), peak intensity (PI), ascending slope (AS), descending slope (DS), area under the TIC curve (AUC), maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean). Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the associations of CEUS and PET-CT parameters.

RESULTS: Of the 88 lymph nodes examined,12 were Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and76 were non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The variations of CEUS dose parameters (ΔI, AUC, and AS) were positively correlated with PET-CT results (SUVmax and TLG). Correlation coefficients were 0.609, 0.518, 0.456, 0.630, 0.593, and 0. 532, respectively. The remaining time values (AT, TP, and ΔT) were negatively associated with PET-CT results. Correlation coefficients were –0.239, –0.272, –0.284and –0.377, –0.391, and –0.320, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative CEUS data were correlated with PET-CT values, with potential use in the diagnosis of lymphoma.

Keywords: Evaluation Studies as Topic, Lymph Nodes, Positron-Emission Tomography, Ultrasonography