title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound techniques for guiding and assessing response to locoregional treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andreana
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Kinuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.forename: Hobyung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minami
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D010087:Oxides; C069727:Sonazoid; D007501:Iron