Diagnostic imaging of focal hepatic lesions - 2008

Full text (.pdf)

Introduction

Methods

• Establishment of Guidelines Development Group (GDG), identification of aims, and of key questions Main aims
  • Questions
  • Study inclusion and exclusion criteria
  • Literature searches
  • Systematic reviews and primary documents
  • Other studies
  • Selection criteria and instruments for methodological evaluation
  • Data rating, evidence synthesis, and recommendation formulation
  • Grading system
  • Referee review
  • Updating, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation
  • Complete text availability

Questions concerning the diagnostic imaging of focal hepatic lesions

• Question 1: What is the role of the imaging techniques of US, CEUS, CT, NMR, and PET in the detection of focal hepatic lesions in: A. oncological patients; B. patients with chronic (cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic) hepatopathy?
• Question 2: What is the role of the imaging techniques of US, CEUS, CT, NMR, and PET in differential diagnosis, i.e., in the characterisation of focal liver lesions and in the diagnostic confirmation (second-tier diagnosis) of focal liver lesions detected via other means in: A. patients with unknown pathology; B. patients with chronic (cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic) hepatopathy; C. oncological patients?
• Question 3: What is the role of the imaging techniques of US, CEUS, CT, NMR, and PET in the locoregional staging of primitive hepatic cancer (in terms of number of lesions, size, site, relations with anatomo-functional structures, and lymph nodes)?
• Question 4: What is the role of the imaging techniques of US, CEUS, CT, NMR, and PET in assessing complications and immediate and long-term (follow-up) treatment responses in patients undergoing oncological therapies (chemotherapies, RFTA and PEI, laser, microwave, TACE, SRT, TAE, cryotherapy, surgery)?
• Question 5: What is the role of the imaging techniques of US, CEUS, CT, NMR, and PET in following up patients with lesions characterised as benign?