title: Comparison between acoustic radiation force impulse quantification data and perfusion-CT parameters in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out, if ultrasound elastography of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can predict patterns of tumor perfusion in volume perfusion computed tomography (VPCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  25 consecutive patients (mean age, 68.9; range, 51-85 years) with liver cirrhosis suspected of HCC underwent VPCT and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography the same day. Quantitative elasticity values were registered, while blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV) and hepatic perfusion index (HPI) of the HCC lesions were calculated. Additionally, we identified histologic WHO grading, lesion size and localization. The Siemens Acuson S 3000 HELX-System with Virtual Touch™-Software and Siemens Somatom Definition Flash with Syngo®software were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 43 HCC lesions were assessed. Mean shear wave velocity was 2.6m/s (range, 1.1-4.3m/s). There was no significant linear correlation between the elasticity values and BF (p=0.751), BV (p=0.426) and HPI (p=0.437). However, elasticity values were higher, the larger the tumor was (p=0.008). Shear wave velocity declined with increasing distance of the HCC to the skin surface (p=0.028) and depending on liver segment. In addition, elasticity values were higher in less differentiated HCCs. This trend was not statistically significant (p=0.842).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue elasticity in HCC does not correlate with the degree of tumor vascularization, but calculated values are influenced both by the tumor size and localization inside the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: michael.esser@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: sven.schneeweiss@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneeweiß
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: manuel.kolb@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolb
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: mustafa.kurucay@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurucay
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: christer.ruff@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: konstantin.nikolaou@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany. Electronic address: marius.horger@med.uni-tuebingen.de.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001810:Blood Volume; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Elasticity imaging techniques; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Perfusion imaging