Power Doppler sonography of hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. Assessment of the therapeutic effect.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of power Doppler sonography (PDS) in assessing the therapeutic effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
TACE was performed in 43 patients (48 lesions) with HCC. All patients were examined with both PDS and color Doppler sonography (CDS) to assess the therapeutic results 1 week after TACE. Follow-up hepatic angiography was performed in 39 patients 3-4 months after TACE and then CT after iodized oil reinjection was also performed 3-4 weeks after a repeat TACE; in the remaining 4 patients, hepatectomy was performed within one month after chemoembolization and histologic study was undertaken to confirm the Doppler findings.


RESULTS
Determination of therapeutic results with PDS and CDS were in agreement with those of follow-up findings in 37 and 29 of the 48 lesions, respectively. There was a significant difference in overall accuracy (p=0.038) between PDS and CDS results.


CONCLUSIONS
PDS is more effective than CDS for evaluating changes in tumor vascularity after TACE. PDS may also replace angiography in assessing the therapeutic effects of TACE for HCCs, except in deep-seated areas.
Hosoki
T
T
Department of Radiology, Osaka National Hospital, Japan.
Yosioka
Y
Y
Matsubara
T
T
Minamitani
K
K
Higashi
M
M
Ohtani
M
M
Choi
S
S
Mitomo
M
M
Tono
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D003287:Contrast Media; D015251:Epirubicin; D007459:Iodized Oil