Liver imaging reporting and data with perfluorobutane microbubbles—Is there hope?

Abstract

Liver imaging reporting and data with perfluorobutane microbubbles-Is there hope?The Reporting and Data System (RADS) was proposed as an imaging standardization project led by the American College of Radiology. The RADS was established to standardize the reporting of imaging findings and the terminology, thereby making it more understandable for nonspecialists. Reporting systems for images of the liver, breast, lungs, thyroid, and prostate have been established. These are accessible via the website (https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Reporting-and-Data-Systems). Translated into several languages, the Liver Imaging RADS (LI-RADS) has been proposed as the standard reporting system in patients diagnosed via computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS). In 2018, the LI-RADS classification was adopted as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance method by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). 1There are two concerns regarding the CEUS LI-RADS. First, CEUS LI-RADS has not been integrated into the diagnostic criteria of the AASLD practice guideline. However, a meta-analysis, supporting the viability of CEUS as a diagnostic tool for HCC, was reviewed. 2