Diffusion-weighted MRI of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma during sorafenib treatment: initial results.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to evaluate signal changes of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in diffusion-weighted MRI in the early-response monitoring of oral therapy with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatocellular carcinoma lesions exhibit characteristic but unusual apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes during sorafenib therapy, consisting of early decrease in ADC after therapy onset followed by a reincrease. The ADC changes seem to reflect the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms in tumor necrosis (most probably hemorrhagic) induced by this novel targeted agent early after therapy onset and may indicate tumor reactivation in the later follow-up period.
Schraml
Christina
C
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. christina.schraml@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Schwenzer
Nina F
NF
Martirosian
Petros
P
Bitzer
Michael
M
Lauer
Ulrich
U
Claussen
Claus D
CD
Horger
Marius
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000077157:Sorafenib; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib