CT appearance of hepatic parenchymal changes after percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in the CT appearance of the hepatic parenchyma surrounding the necrotic area in the early period after percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
We reviewed enhanced CT scans obtained before and within 2 weeks, at 1 month, and at 3 months after PMCT of 61 lesions in 47 patients with HCC.


RESULTS
On dynamic CT, early enhancement of the hepatic parenchyma around the treated area was a frequent finding within 1 (87%) or 2 (68%) weeks after PMCT, but such enhancement disappeared on follow-up. Arterioportal shunts were also demonstrated by enhanced CT after treatment (21% at < or =2 weeks), and these shunts tended to persist for >1 month.


CONCLUSIONS
We should evaluate the effect of PMCT by performing dynamic enhanced CT not only within 2 weeks to determine the end-point of treatment but also at 1 month or more after finishing treatment for definite assessment of tumor necrosis.
Ohmoto
K
K
Department of Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. ohmotok@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
Tsuduki
M
M
Kunieda
T
T
Mitsui
Y
Y
Yamamoto
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001163:Arteriovenous Anastomosis; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003972:Diathermy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media