Assessment of treatment efficacy in radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison between multiplanar reconstruction by multi-detector row CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography by Truagent detection mode.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the image of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) by multi-detector row CT (MDCT) and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) by Truagent Detection Modetrade mark after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma to assess treatment efficacy.


METHODS
We examined 16 nodules in 15 patients who underwent CEUS just before and on the day following RFA, and then CT-MPR by MDCT 5 or 6 days after RFA. We measured the lengths of the major and minor axes at the maximal necrotic area, which were thought to correspond to similarly shaped images on both CT-MPR and CEUS.


RESULTS
There are significant positive correlations in the lengths of the major and minor axes at the maximal necrotic area as measured on CT-MPR and CEUS. The differences in the lengths of the major and minor axes between CT-MPR and the parenchymal phase of CEUS were smaller than those between CT-MPR and the late vascular phase of CEUS.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed a non-enhanced area of CT-MPR 5 or 6 days after RFA was similar to that of the parenchymal phase of CEUS on the day following RFA, and so it is possible to assess the treatment efficacy by CEUS on the day following RFA.
Department of Internal Medicine, Nagano Municipal Hospital, 1333-1, Tomitake, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture 381-8551, Japan.
Yasuharu
Y
Imai
Naoko
N
Okamoto
Nobuyuki
N
Tateiwa
Osamu
O
Hasebe
Atsuo
A
Nagata
Shun
S
Imai
Hiroto
H
Makita