title: Clinical and Imaging Follow-up Practices after Transarterial Therapy for Primary and Secondary Hepatic Malignancies: Results of an Online Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize practices and quantify variation in longitudinal follow-up approaches among interventional radiologists (IRs) after liver transarterial locoregional therapy (LRT) in contemporary Interventional Oncology practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In November/December 2014, Society of Interventional Radiology members were invited to participate in a survey regarding clinical and imaging follow-up of liver cancer patients treated with transarterial LRT. On survey closure, responses were compiled and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-item survey response rate was 11% (361 of 3290). Respondents were predominantly American IRs (311 of 355, 88%) who perform 1-5 LRTs monthly (196 of 354, 55%). Most (305 of 336, 91%) IRs reported longitudinal follow-up, with patient encounters within 1-month (73%, 211 of 290) postprocedure and every 3 months (68%, 196 of 287) thereafter and involvement in imaging (up to 80%, 235 of 290) ordering and evaluation. Preferred timing of first follow-up imaging (1 month vs. 3 months) and response criteria used (mRECIST favored) varied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although IRs are actively involved in clinical and imaging follow-up of patients with liver malignancies treated with transarterial LRTs, there are differences in imaging frequency and response assessment. These data may serve as a starting point for standardization of LRT follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, 1740 West Taylor St, MC 931, Chicago, IL 60612. Electronic address: rgaba@uic.edu.
authors.forename: Ron C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gaba
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Baerlocher
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stratton Medical Center, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Aradhana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Venkatesan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Section of Interventional Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lewandowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Transarterial therapy; follow-up; hepatic malignancy; survey