Comparison of a high-end ultrasound system and spiral-computed tomographic system in identifying liver metastases.

Aim: To assess prospectively the sensitivity of a high-end ultrasound system in comparison to a spiral computed tomographic scanner in screening for liver metastases. Method: 88 consecutive patients with malignant diseases were examined using grayscale sonography and contrast enhanced two-phase spiral computed tomography during arterial dominant and portal venous phase. For both methods all focal lesions of the liver were reported. Results: 99 focal lesions of the liver were detected by gray-scale sonography and/or two-phase spiral computed tomography. The sensitivity for gray-scale sonography was 93.9% (93 of 99 lesions) and for two-phase spiral computed tomography 71.7% (71 of 99 lesions), respectively, Conclusion: Screening for liver metastases should be performed by using a diagnostic method with a high sensitivity, Gray-scale sonography with a high-end ultrasound system fulfill these requirements.