A meta-analysis evaluating contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasound (CE-IOUS) in the context of surgery for colorectal liver metastases.

Background This study aimed to assess the outcomes of contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasound (CE-IOUS) for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) undergoing surgery. Method A thorough literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The Odds Ratio, Weighted Mean Difference, and 95% Confidence Interval were evaluated, by means of Random-Effects model. Results Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria and incorporated 497 patients. The present study shows that CE-IOUS is associated with higher sensitivity and accuracy compared with multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in identifying CRLMs (p 0.05). Conclusion These outcomes suggest the superiority of the CE-IOUS over MDCT, MRI, and IOUS for the staging of patients with CRLMs undergoing surgery. However, they should be treated with caution given the small number of the included studies.