title: Evaluating the therapeutic effect of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization by magnetic resonance perfusion imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the characteristics of magnetic resonance perfusion-weighted imaging (MRPWI) scans before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to apply MRPWI in evaluating the therapeutic effect of TACE and prognosis of HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients with HCC undergoing their first TACE treatment were enrolled in this study. T2WI, T1WI, and PWI of MRI were performed 24-48 h before TACE and 48-168 h after TACE. Perfusion parameters calculated with the maximum slope were used to create a time-signal intensity curve (TSC). The efficacy of TACE treatment in HCC was evaluated by examining the hemodynamic changes in TSC caused by TACE treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TSC before TACE showed a pattern of a quick decrease and a slow increase in the tumor region of interest in 34 patients with HCC, whereas the TSC for normal liver tissues showed a pattern of slow decrease and slow increase. After TACE, the fluctuating range of TSC was significantly reduced in 31 patients, slightly reduced in three, and did not change significantly in one. The 3-year survival rate was 28.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRPWI of the liver does not only show the anatomy of HCC lesions but also reflects hemodynamic changes of HCC before and after TACE to a certain extent. It is very useful for clinical evaluation of the efficacy of TACE for HCC.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Radiology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan bDepartment of Radiology, Huaqiao Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong cDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiangyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Enhua
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Dianshuang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Chengzhi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Dujun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden