[Ultrasound technology's new application in the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer].

Abstract

Primary liver cancer (represented by hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) is a common clinical malignant liver tumor with a high mortality burden. The disease has high heterogeneity, and diagnosis stratification and efficacy evaluation heavily rely on imaging. Among imaging modalities, ultrasound, with its advantages of real-time imaging, gradually improving resolution, and dynamic assessment of multi-parameter information such as blood flow perfusion, is continuously expanding its application scenarios in the liver cancer diagnosis and treatment chain along with the rapid development of a series of new technologies. In recent years, technologies such as microvascular blood flow ultrasound, super-resolution ultrasound, three-dimensional multi-parameter contrast-enhanced ultrasound, viscoelasticity, and dispersive imaging have developed rapidly, enabling more refined acquisition of blood flow, perfusion, and mechanical information related to liver cancer. Simultaneously, workflow technologies such as integrated navigation and artificial intelligence-assisted procedures have promoted more precise and visual positioning, quantification, and evaluation during interventional procedures and provided a foundation for the further introduction of closed-loop simulation and decision support frameworks represented by digital twins. This article focuses on the two key aspects of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment, systematically reviews the above-mentioned ultrasound technologies' new clinical value and applicable scenarios and limitations, and looks forward to directions such as standardization, multi-center validation, and workflow integration, with the aim of providing a reference for clinical practice and research design.