Radiofrequency ablation of liver cancer: early evaluation of therapeutic response with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography.
The early assessment of the therapeutic response after percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation is important, in order to correctly decide whether further treatment is necessary. The residual unablated tumor is usually depicted on contrast-enhanced multiphase helical computed tomography (CT) as a focal enhancing structure during the arterial and portal venous phases. Contrast-enhanced color Doppler and power Doppler ultrasonography (US) have also been used to detect residual tumors. Contrast-enhanced gray-scale US, using a harmonic technology which has recently been introduced, allows for the detection of residual tumors after ablation, without any of the blooming or motion artifacts usually seen on contrast-enhanced color or power Doppler US. Based on our experience and reports in the literature, we consider that contrast-enhanced gray-scale harmonic US constitutes a reliable alternative to contrast-enhanced multiphase CT for the early evaluation of the therapeutic response to RF ablation for liver cancer. This technique was also useful in targeting any residual unablated tumors encountered during additional ablation.
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea. hklim@smc.samsung.co.kr
Dongil
D
Choi
Hyo K
HK
Lim
Won Jae
WJ
Lee
Seung Hoon
SH
Kim
Min Ju
MJ
Kim
Seung Kwon
SK
Kim
Kyung Mi
KM
Jang
Ji Yeon
JY
Lee
Jae Hoon
JH
Lim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013535:Suspensions; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013535:Suspensions; C059891:SHU 508