title: Response evaluation of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in hepatocellular carcinomas: the usefulness of sonazoid-enhanced harmonic sonography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate if Sonazoid-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography (US) could be used to evaluate the responses of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) to treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three HCCs that had been treated by TACE were evaluated by Sonazoid-enhanced harmonic US and dynamic computed tomography (CT) approximately 1 week after their treatment. The detection rates of residual tumor blood supply using the two modalities were compared. Two months after chemoembolization, 16 of the 43 HCCs, which had no additional local treatment, were followed up with dynamic CT. The results of contrast-enhanced harmonic US and dynamic CT 1 week after chemoembolization were analyzed and compared with follow-up dynamic CT results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The detection rates of positive enhancement with Sonazoid-enhanced harmonic US and dynamic CT 1 week after TACE were 25 (58.1%) of 43 lesions and 17 (39.5%) of 43 lesions, respectively. Sonazoid-enhanced harmonic US was significantly more sensitive than dynamic CT in depicting the residual tumor blood supply to HCCs 1 week after TACE (p < 0.01; chi(2) test). The Sonazoid-enhanced harmonic US results of the 16 lesions 1 week after chemoembolization were consistent with the follow-up results of dynamic CT 2 months after chemoembolization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonazoid-enhanced harmonic US appears to be a highly sensitive and accurate modality for evaluating responses of HCCs shortly after TACE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Kinuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.forename: Kazuomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueshima
authors.forename: Hobyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitai
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Sosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayaishi
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maekawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003287:Contrast Media; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil; D007501:Iron; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010087:Oxides; C069727:Sonazoid; D015251:Epirubicin; D007459:Iodized Oil; D007501:Iron