Mesenteric Masses on 2D Mode and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound: A Retrospective Study in 69 Patients

Detection of mesenteric masses (MM) by 2 D ultrasound often causes a diagnostic dilemma, and histological confirmation is required for definite diagnosis. The value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the diagnosis of MMs has not been investigated before. Here, we retrospectively evaluate 2D-mode and CEUS patterns of 69 patients with histologically confirmed MMs.

Between January 2006 and January 2016, n = 69 patients were included in the study. Histopathological data, clinical data, 2D-mode ultrasound and CEUS enhancement were retrospectively analyzed.

More than half of the MMs (n = 47/69, 68 %) revealed a malignant histology. The size of the MM, inflammation markers and clinical symptoms did not correlate with the histological outcome. 2 D mode revealed n = 46 (67 %) lesions as hypoechoic, n = 14 (20 %) as hyperechoic, and n = 9 (13 %) with a complex echo pattern. Hypoechogenicity and complex echo patterns as well as regular borders of MMs were significantly associated with malignancy (p < 0.05). On CEUS, malignant MMs showed arterial hyperenhancement (n = 11/47, 23 %), isoenhancement (n = 25/47, 52 %) and hypoenhancement (n = 7/47, 15 %). The majority of malignant MMs (n = 42/47, 89 %) revealed parenchymal hypoenhancement. Benign masses revealed arterial hyperenhancement in n = 1/22 (5 %), isoenhancement in n = 8/22 (36 %), and hypoenhancement in n = 10/22 (45 %). The majority of lesions showed parenchymal hypoenhancement (n = 19/22, 86 %).

Hypoechogenicity and complex echogenicity in 2 D mode, irregular borders, and parenchymal wash-out were more often associated with malignancy. However, CEUS did not help to subclassify malignant MMs according to their histological entity.