title: Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography for efficacy evaluation after hepatocellular carcinoma radiofrequency ablation: a comparative study with contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in assessing residual tumors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 83 HCC lesions among 72 patients. All patients were examined with ARFI, contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and CT or MRI. Tumor brightness on virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) and shear wave velocity (SWV) were assessed before and approximately one month after RFA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 14 residual tumors after RFA. VTI showed that all the tumors were darker after RFA. VTI was not able to distinguish the ablated lesions and the residual tumors. 13 residual tumor lesions were detected by CEUS. All completely ablated nodules had SWV demonstration of x.xx., while with those residual nodules, 6 tumors had x.xx measurement and 8 tumors had measurable SWV. nine lesions with residual tumors occurred in cirrhosis subjects and 5 lesions with residual tumors occurred in fibrosis subjects; there was no residual tumor in the normal liver subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VTI technique cannot demonstrate residual tumor post RFA. While SWV measurement of less than x.xx is likely associated with residual tumors, measurement of less than x.xx cannot exclude residual tumors. Liver cirrhosis is associated with decreased chance of a complete ablation.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China ; The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
authors.forename: Liangping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Jiexin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Jiexin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Honglian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Mingyi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Zhanqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Nianping
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Huilai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Manzhou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Anil T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang J
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003287:Contrast Media; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media