Semiautomatic Whole-lesion Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Assessment for Early Prediction of Liver Tumor Response to Radioembolization.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate volume-based apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCVOL) values for early prediction of therapy response after radioembolization (RE) of primary and secondary liver malignancies using a semiautomatic, image analysis software prototype.


METHODS
In a retrospective analysis, 74 target lesions were assessed in terms of therapy response 1 month after RE using magnetic resonance imaging. Changes of the diameter of the target lesions, the mean ADC value in a representative single-slice region of interest (ADCROI) and mean ADCVOL were correlated.


RESULTS
The median progression-free interval (PFI) of patients overall was 3.5±5.9 months. PFI in patients with an ADCVOL increase was statistically significantly longer than in patients with an ADCVOL decrease (mean PFI=6.5 vs. 2.5 months; p=0.0374). No correlation between PFI and early changes in lesion diameter or ADCROI was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Semiautomatic, software-based ADC volume measurements seem to offer a clinically valuable parameter for early prediction of therapy response in patients after RE.
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany nils.rathmann@umm.de.
Nils
N
Rathmann
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Johannes
J
Budjan
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Fatinah
F
Mari
Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany.
Robert
R
Grimm
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Ulrike
U
Attenberger
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Michael
M
Kostrzewa
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Maliha
M
Sadick
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Stefan O
SO
Schoenberg
Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim - Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Steffen J
SJ
Diehl
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes
Volumetric measurement; apparent diffusion coefficient; liver tumor; radioembolization; semiautomatic analysis