Therapeutic effect of TAE can be predicted by abdominal-enhanced CT findings in HCC.
OBJECTIVE
In order to improve the therapeutic efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the relationship between CT findings and antitumor efficacy was studied.


METHODS
The therapeutic effect on CT 1 year after TAE was respectively studied for 100 nodules of HCC where TAE was performed. The pre-treatment abdominal CT findings were classified, and the therapeutic effect was compared with regard to these attributes.


RESULTS
Tumors determined to have no recurrence at the treated site (defined as "complete necrosis") accounted for 58% overall. The percentage of "complete necrosis" in pre-TAE CT findings by type showed that 1) in terms of tumor shape, 73.4% were smooth type, 34.5% irregular type, and 0% invasive type (p = 0.0003), 2) in terms of the presence of corona nodules, nodules where "complete necrosis" was achieved were corona-positive in 67.7% and coronanegative in 37.1% (p = 0.003), 3) in terms of tumor size, 68.3% of tumors were smaller than 3.0cm and 28.6% were larger than 3.1cm, 4) in terms of location, 64.6% of tumors were in a peripheral location and 28.6% in a central location (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic effect of TAE is improved by adequate diagnosis of the tumor characteristics found on pre-treatment CT.
Kobayahsi
Shinjiro
S
Department of Surgery, Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1, Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan. gxptd195@ybb.ne.jp
Katagiri
Satoshi
S
Ariizumi
Shyunichi
S
Yamamoto
Masakazu
M
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed