title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma inconspicuous on conventional ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficiency and feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-guided microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma inconspicuous on conventional US.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2006 to February 2010, 107 patients (93 male, 14 female; mean age 58.9±11.0 years) with 107 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules (mean maximum diameter 19.5±8.5 mm) inconspicuous on conventional US underwent microwave (MW) ablation under CEUS guidance in this study. US contrast agent was SonoVue (Bracco, Milan, Italy), a second-generation contrast agent. CEUS was performed first, and then MW ablation was carried out by means of CEUS guidance under unconscious intravenous anaesthesia if the tumours were displayed on CEUS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  105 tumours were successfully visualised on CEUS by using 1-2 times contrast agent injection and MW ablation was performed under CEUS guidance. The technical success rate was 98.13% (105/107). The number of antenna insertions for each tumour was 1.89±0.92, and the mean session of MW ablation for each tumour was 1.08±0.28. The mean duration of energy application for each tumour was 7.05±4.03 min. The follow-up time was 12-54 months (median 18 months). The technique effectiveness rate was 99.05% (104/105). The local tumour progression rate was 1.9% (2/105). There were no severe complications in any patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEUS-guided MW ablation is an efficient and feasible treatment method for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma inconspicuous on conventional US.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Fangyi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhiyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Baowei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride