title: Imaging Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Dynamic CT Before and After Transarterial Chemoembolization: Optimal Scan Timing of Arterial Phase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the optimal arterial phase delay for computed tomography imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) using a low iodine dose protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 39 patients with known HCC were imaged with dynamic computed tomography of the liver (40-second scan duration, 60 mL of contrast medium), both on the same day before TACE and 1 day after TACE. Time attenuation curves of vessels, nonmalignant liver parenchyma, and 62 HCCs were normalized to a uniform aortic contrast arrival and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximal arterial phase HCC to liver contrast was reached between 13 and 17 seconds after aortic contrast arrival, both before and after TACE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using our low iodine dose protocol, arterial phase imaging of HCC should be performed between 13 and 17 seconds after aortic contrast arrival, both before and after TACE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: Marc.Saake@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saake
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lell
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wuest
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uder
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol
keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; computed tomography; contrast media; scan delay; transarterial chemoembolization