Ultrasound liver imaging reporting and data system^®: Considerations for routine practice

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Medicine
• Medical Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence and mortality are rising globally, particularly in Australia.
• Early detection of HCC is crucial for improving patient prognosis.
• Ultrasound is the primary screening tool for HCC surveillance, with standardized reporting systems like US LI-RADS being developed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a visualization score for liver ultrasound examinations in HCC screening.
• To assess the utility of a sonographer-applied visualization score in routine clinical practice.
• To enhance the reliability of ultrasound in excluding HCC based on image quality.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a three-category visualization score (adequate, adequate with limitations, inadequate) by sonographers during ultrasound examinations.
• The score assesses the quality of liver visualization during HCC screening.
• Comparison of the introduced score with the principles of the US LI-RADS visualization component.

Main Results:

• The visualization score is easy to implement in routine work.
• It provides valuable information to clinicians regarding ultrasound study quality.
• The score aids in assessing confidence for excluding HCC based solely on ultrasound findings.

Conclusions:

• Adopting a liver ultrasound visualization score is a simple yet important measure for HCC screening.
• This scoring system improves communication between sonographers and clinicians regarding image quality.
• Enhancing ultrasound screening efficiency through tools like visualization scores can lead to better patient outcomes in HCC management.