The Value of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography and Contrast-Enhanced CT in the Diagnosis of Malignant Renal Cystic Lesions: A Meta-Analysis

We compared the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for the diagnosis of renal cystic lesions via a meta-analysis to determine the value of CEUS in the prediction of the malignant potential of complex renal cysts. Eleven studies were evaluated: 4 control studies related to CEUS and CECT, 3 studies related to CEUS and 4 studies related to CECT. According to the random effects model, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for CEUS/CECT were 0.95/0.90, 0.79/0.85, 4.39/5.00, and 0.10/0.15, respectively. The areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic (AUCs-SROC) curves for the two methods were 94.24% and 93.39%, and the estimated Q values were 0.8805 and 0.8698, respectively. Comparing the Q index values of CEUS and CECT revealed no significant difference between the two methods (P>0.05). When compared with conventional CECT, CEUS is also useful for diagnosing renal cystic lesions in the clinic.

PloS one. 2016 May 20*** epublish ***

Dong Lan, Hong-Chen Qu, Ning Li, Xing-Wang Zhu, Yi-Li Liu, Chun-Lai Liu

Department of Urological Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China., Department of Urological Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University/Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China., Department of Urological Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China., Department of Urological Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China., Department of Urological Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China., Department of Urological Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P.R. China.