title: Usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with abdominal virtual ultrasonography in assessing therapeutic response in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiofrequency ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is regarded as the gold standard for assessing the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the efficacy of virtual ultrasonography (VUS) with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) vs. CECT for assessing the response to RFA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study 1: The therapeutic responses in 22 patients with 26 HCC nodules were assessed by CEUS with VUS as well as by CECT. The efficacy of treatment was based on whether the safety margin was greater than 5 mm after RFA. Study 2: In seven patients with seven HCC nodules, the nodules were treated by RFA and the therapeutic efficacy was assessed by CEUS with VUS. The number of RFA sessions was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with CECT, CEUS with VUS had a specificity of 77%, a sensitivity of 91.6%, and an accuracy of 84%. When the therapeutic response to RFA was analyzed by CECT only, 1.86 +/- 0.69 assessments (mean) were required, while when response was assessed by CEUS with VUS, 1.14 +/- 0.38 CECT assessments were required (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEUS with VUS is effective in assessing the therapeutic response to RFA of HCC. Moreover, the number of CECT scans required is reduced by this approach.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Tohon-Shi, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyasu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kisaka
authors.forename: Masasi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirooka
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumagi
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiasa
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumano
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michitaka
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horiike
authors.forename: Teruhito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.forename: Morikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media