Contrast-enhanced ultrasound techniques for guiding and assessing response to locoregional treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) are diagnosed in patients with cirrhosis and/or when tumor burden is too advanced for surgical treatment. In many of these cases the only suitable therapy is locoregional, percutaneous and/or intraarterial treatment. Moreover, the best way to guide and assess response to locoregional HCC treatment are two issues under discussion today. First-generation and subsequent second-generation microbubble contrast agents, together with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) imaging, have expanded the role of US techniques in HCC treatments. In this review our purpose is to illustrate the advantages, limits and potential of contrast-enhanced US application for locoregional HCC treatment.
Andreana
Lorenzo
L
Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples Medical School, Naples, Italy.
Kudo
Masatoshi
M
Hatanaka
Kinuyo
K
Chung
Hobyung
H
Minami
Yasunori
Y
Maekawa
Kiyoshi
K
Ruggiero
Giuseppe
G
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D010087:Oxides; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010087:Oxides; C069727:Sonazoid; D007501:Iron