Flash-echo contrast sonography in the evaluation of response of small hepatocellular carcinoma to percutaneous ablation

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of flash-echo contrast sonography (FECS) in subtraction mode in assessing small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after percutaneous local ablation therapy. METHODS: Between March 2000 and February 2002, we prospectively assessed small HCCs after percutaneous local ablation therapy using FECS in subtraction mode. Thirty-three patients (22 men, 11 women) with 35 tumors ranging in size from 1.1 to 3.0 cm (mean +/- SD, 2.0 +/- 0.5) were enrolled. Twenty-one tumors received percutaneous ethanol injection only, 13 tumors received percutaneous microwave ablation therapy only, and the remaining tumor received both treatments. CT, hepatic angiography, and follow-up were used as gold standards in analyzing the accuracy of FECS in detecting residual tumors. RESULTS: The agreements between FECS and CT, FECS and hepatic angiography, and all 3 imaging modalities were 80% (28/35), 85.7% (30/35), and 77.1% (27/35), respectively. Twenty-one patients with 23 completely ablated tumors were followed up for 5 to 39 months (mean +/- SD, 20.2 +/- 11.2). Recurrent disease was detected in 11 (52.4%) patients; local tumor recurrence occurred in 4 (17.4%) patients. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive value of FECS in detecting viable tumors were 53.8% (7/13), 90.9% (20/22), 77.1% (27/35), 77.8% (7/9), and 76.9% (20/26), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: FECS in subtraction mode shows good agreement with hepatic angiography and CT in the assessment of small HCC after percutaneous local ablation therapy. The sensitivity of FECS in detecting residual tumors is suboptimal.     

CO2-enhanced sonographically guided radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for small hepatocellular carcinoma poorly defined on conventional sonography

We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma located just below the right hemidiaphragm that was diagnosed as having hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis 12 years ago. Although the lesion was not clear on conventional sonography, it was clearly defined on CO(2)-enhanced sonography, allowing safe and accurate radiofrequency ablation. By combining radiofrequency ablation with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, extensive cauterization and complete tumor necrosis were obtained with only 1 session of treatment. The patient had no serious adverse effects and has shown no recurrence during 35 months of follow-up.     

Assessment of therapeutic response in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous radio frequency ablation: comparison of multiphase helical computed tomography and power Doppler ultrasonography with a microbubble contrast agent.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of multiphase helical computed tomography and power Doppler ultrasonography with a microbubble contrast agent in the assessment of the therapeutic response to radio frequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: In 66 patients with 73 nodular hepatocellular carcinomas ranging from 1.0 to 4.0 cm (mean, 2.6 cm) in diameter, contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography was performed after intravenous bolus injection of a galactose-based microbubble contrast agent before and after radio frequency ablation. The results of the studies were compared with the findings of follow-up 3-phase helical computed tomography. All patients were regularly followed up with computed tomography for more than 1 year (range, 13-19 months). RESULTS: In 8 (11%) of 73 hepatocellular carcinomas, immediate follow-up computed tomography obtained within 2 hours after radio frequency ablation showed focal enhancing portions within the treated lesions, suggesting residual non-necrotic tumors. All 8 of these tumors had intratumoral flow signals on contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography. The diagnostic agreement between computed tomography and contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography was achieved in 100%. Among the remaining 65 hepatocellular carcinomas with the absence of residual tumors at both immediate follow-up computed tomography and contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography, subsequent follow-up computed tomography showed local regrowth at the margins of 10 lesions (15%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography closely correlated with those of immediate follow-up computed tomography for detecting residual tumors in hepatocellular carcinomas treated with radio frequency ablation. Both techniques, however, showed a limitation in detecting small or microscopic residual tumors and in predicting local regrowth in the treated lesions.     

Cutaneous seeding after ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cutaneous seeding is a rare complication of interventional ultrasound procedures. We describe a case of needle-track cutaneous seeding of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after sonographically guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). In our case, the seeding might have been related to the type of needle used and the multiple passes required to treat the liver lesion. Despite the risk of needle-track seeding, PEI remains useful in the treatment of HCC.     

Contrast-enhanced sonography of a hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing spontaneous necrosis

Spontaneous necrosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rare. We report the case of a 72-year-old woman with an HCC nodule that underwent necrosis after sonographically guided needle biopsy. Baseline sonographic examination revealed only a nonspecific change in the echogenicity of the lesion. Subsequent necrosis was suggested on contrast-enhanced sonographic examination and was confirmed on spiral CT.     

Contrast-enhanced sonography in the diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma < or =2 cm

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of contrast-enhanced sonography (CEUS) in the diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) measuring < or =2 cm in diameter. METHODS: We identified 104 focal liver lesions measuring < or =2 cm in 104 consecutive patients who were enrolled for baseline sonography (BUS) and CEUS examination (49 HCCs, 55 non-HCCs). A real-time, contrast-specific mode of contrast pulse sequencing and a sulphur hexafluoride-filled microbubble contrast agent were used for CEUS. The diagnostic performances of BUS and CEUS in differentiating focal liver lesions (HCC or non-HCC) were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: On CEUS, 43 (87.8%) of the 49 HCC lesions were hyperenhanced, 5 (10.2%) were isoenhanced, and 1 (2%) was hypoenhanced during the arterial phase when compared with adjacent liver tissue. Thirty-nine (79.6%) HCCs exhibited washout from the portal phase to the late phase. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy before and after contrast agent administration were 28.6% (14/49) versus 79.6% (39/49) (p < 0.001), 94.5% (52/55) versus 92.7% (51/55) (p > 0.05), 82.4% (14/17) versus 90.7% (39/43) (p > 0.05), 59.8% (52/87) versus 90.7% (39/43) (p < 0.01), and 63.5% (66/104) versus 86.5% (90/104) (p < 0.001), respectively. No significant difference in diagnostic performance of CEUS was found between lesions measuring < or =1.5 cm and those 1.6-2 cm and between lesions located at a depth of < or =6 cm from the skin and those located deeper. CONCLUSIONS: CEUS significantly improved the diagnostic performance in characterization of small HCCs < or =2 cm compared with BUS.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma: therapeutic experience with percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography with the contrast agent Levovist.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience with percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography with Levovist (SH U 508A; Nihon Schering, Osaka, Japan) for hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial infusion. METHODS: Twenty patients (17 men and 3 women; mean age, 58.4 years) with 23 hepatocellular carcinoma nodules (mean +/- SD, 2.7 +/- 1.5 cm) underwent percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography 1 week after transcatheter arterial infusion. Therapeutic effects were assessed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography and posttreatment fine-needle biopsy. This study was performed on a prospective basis. RESULTS: After the transcatheter arterial infusion, contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography showed intense intratumoral color signals in all 23 hepatocellular carcinomas. After the percutaneous ethanol injection, contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography, fine-needle biopsy, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed no color signals, no viable tumor tissues, and no enhancement in any of the 23 hepatocellular carcinomas. Three to 5 (mean, 3.3) percutaneous ethanol injection sessions with a 5.2- to 15.6-mL (mean, 12.8-mL) total volume of ethanol per tumor were required for complete disappearance of color signals on contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ethanol injection under real-time contrast-enhanced color Doppler sonography has considerable efficacy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.     

肝癌射频消融术后超声造影引导下无水乙醇治疗肝癌的临床价值

目的：研究与常规超声引导相比较,超声造影(CEUS)引导下无水乙醇治疗射频消融术(RFA)后残存的肝癌有无优越性。方法：61例原发性肝癌的患者RFA术后行无水乙醇注射进行补充治疗,根据引导方式不同分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组运用超声造影引导方式,对照组采用常规超声引导方式,术后1个月对治疗病灶进行超声造影及增强CT的评价。结果：治疗组30个病灶,28个病灶达到完全灭活,2个病灶存有残存活性区达到部分灭活。对照组31个病灶,22个病灶达到完全灭活,9个病灶达到部分灭活。两者有统计学差异,(P＜0.05)。结论：运用超声造影引导可以有效的提高肝癌RFA术后无水乙醇治疗肝癌的疗效。     

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for assessment of tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Studies have shown that angiogenesis is a critical factor for tumor growth and metastasis in a variety of human tumors. Although various methods have been tried to assess vessels in tumors, including microvessel density (MVD), assessment of tumor vessels by radiologic techniques is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in determining the tumor vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was done in 50 patients with HCC, which was shown histopathologically through subsequent hepatic resection. A contrast pulse sequencing technique and quantitative auto-tracking contrast quantification software were used to analyze the peak intensity (PI) of HCC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the level of MVD in HCC. Then the relationship between PI and the level of MVD was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean PIs of HCC and peripheral tissue +/- SD were 135.19 +/- 28.16 and 72.91 +/- 19.22 dB, respectively. The MVDs of HCC and peripheral tissue were 43.44 +/- 12.22 and 17.14 +/- 9.18, respectively. The values of PI and MVD of HCC were significantly higher than those of peripheral tissue. A significant correlation was found between PI and MVD in HCC tissues (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The PI in CEUS could reflect the MVD in HCC. Therefore, quantification of CEUS seems to be helpful for assessment of tumor vascularity in HCC.     

超声造影对乙醇消融量化治疗肝癌疗效评判与随访价值

目的探讨超声造影对乙醇消融量化治疗肝细胞癌疗效判断以及在随访中的临床应用价值。方法经超声引导无水乙醇消融量化治疗肝癌54例,计54个肿瘤结节,分为A、B、C三组。A组于乙醇消融治疗结束时以及治疗后1个月复查,B组于治疗后12～14个月复查,C组于治疗24个月后复查。采用彩色多普勒超声及超声造影技术观察肿瘤结节大小、内部回声、血流及造影改变,并行超声引导穿刺活检。结果二维超声检查3组肝癌结节均较治疗前有不同程度缩小。A组肿瘤结节治疗结束时均为高回声,1个月后表现高回声或偏高回声者为52.4%(11/21),明显低于B、C两组表现为高回声或偏高回声的87.5%(14/16)、88.2%(15/17)(均P<0.05),而B、C两组间无明显差异(P>0.05)。彩色多普勒超声检查各组均未见血流信号。超声造影检查,A组结节在治疗结束时造影剂缺损区直径均超出原肿瘤,除A组3个肿瘤结节内见小片区域轻微增强外,余51个结节均未见增强。细针活检除A组3个结节内见残留肝癌细胞外,余均为纤维瘢痕组织及坏死组织。结论超声造影可较好评判肝癌乙醇消融量化治疗疗效,随访中能提供更多的诊断信息。     

Detection of tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma with contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow imaging: Comparison with contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow imaging and contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging using Levovist^? as a microbubble contrast agent in evaluating intratumoral vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine patients with 54 hepatocellular carcinoma nodules (before treatment, 31; after treatment, 23) were studied with both Dynamic Flow and power Doppler imaging with intravenous injection of Levovist^?. Tumor vascularity was categorized as 0, no blood flow signals within the tumor; 1, dotlike blood flow signals within the tumor; 2, moderate blood flow signals within the tumor; and 3, abundant blood flow signals within the tumor. Detectability of intratumoral vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma in three groups based on tumor depth, blooming and noise artifacts on contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow and contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging were also compared with results obtained using dynamic CT as a the gold standard. The effectiveness of contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow and contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging in assessing therapeutic effect were compared at the same time.Results: The ability of contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow Doppler imaging to detect tumor vascularity in the superficial and intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma groups was close to that of contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging (p>0.05). However, contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow imaging demonstrated tumor parenchymal stain in 28 hepatocellular carcinoma nodules (61%), which was not detected by contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging. Further, significantly fewer artifacts appeared in contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow imaging than in contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging (p<0.001). In assessing therapeutic response, the sensitivity of contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow imaging was similar to that of dynamic CT. In deep areas, however, those more than 6 cm below the surface of the body, contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow imaging was less sensitivity than contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging (p=0.005).Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced Dynamic Flow imaging provides an effective approach to assessing intratumoral vascularity and therapeutic response in HCC lesions situated less than 6 cm from the surface of the body. It is superior to contrast-enhanced power Doppler imaging in its ability to detect tumor parenchymal stain and production of fewer artifacts.     

Efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection versus radiofrequency ablation for single hepatocellular carcinoma no larger than 5 cm

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of no larger than 5 cm.MethodsThe data used in this study were retrieved from the SEER database. In total, 3510 patients diagnosed with HCC of no larger than 5 cm who received PEI or RFA were included.ResultsThe median overall survival (mOS) and median cancer-specific survival (mCSS) of RFA-treated patients were not significantly longer than those of PEI-treated patients either before or after propensity score matching (PSM). The subgroup analysis showed that patients with HCC of no larger than 2 cm, HCC of larger than 2 cm, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage I and II, and AJCC stage III and IV who received RFA had mOS and mCSS similar to those of patients who received PEI after PSM. Multivariable regression analysis showed that PEI did not increase the all-cause mortality risk or cancer-specific mortality risk after PSM.ConclusionRFA is still the better choice for patients with a single HCC of no more than 5 cm. However, PEI might be a good choice for these patients who cannot be treated with RFA.     

微创性治疗原发性肝癌84例临床研究

目的探讨经皮肝动脉栓塞化疗（TACE）、瘤内无水酒精注射（PEI）和经皮射频消融（RFA）等介入性微创治疗方法对原发性肝癌（HCC）的疗效。方法将1997年9月～2003年9月84例HCC分为5个治疗组：（1）TACE组13例；（2）PEI组16例；（3）TACE联合PEI组10例；（4）RFA组23例；（5）RFA联合PEI组22例。结果TACE组13例中有5例接受二期手术切除，其中3例见残留的癌细胞；余8例治疗后1、2、3年的复发率为25．0％、50．0％、87．5％，1、2、3年生存率分别为100％、50．0％和12．5％。PEI组16例治疗后1、2、3年的复发率分别为28．6％、50．0％和78．6％，1、2、3年生存率分别为81．3％、68．8％和25．0％。TACE联合PEI组10例治疗后1、2、3年复发率分别为20．0％、50．0％和80．0％；1、2、3年生存率分别为90．0％、40．0％和10．0％。RFA组23例，1、2、3年的复发率分别为8．7％、21．7％和34．8％。1、2、3年生存率分别为92．3％、87．0％和60．9％。RFA联合PEI组22例，3例改行手术切除，其余19例患者术后1年复发率为10．5％，2年复发率为26．3％。1年生存率为89．5％，2年生存率为78．9％。结论HCC的微创治疗创伤小，治疗后能保持较高的生存质量。以RFA为代表的局部治疗，对HCC治疗坏死程度较高，理论上其疗效将会接近或者达到手术切除的效果。     

Evaluation of transcatheter arterial embolization therapy on hepatocellular carcinomas using contrast-enhanced harmonic power Doppler sonography: comparison with CT,power Doppler sonography,and dynamic MRI

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess and compare the sensitivity of power Doppler sonography, contrast-enhanced sonography, plain computed tomography (CT), and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules incompletely treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). Methods A total of 63 unresectable HCC nodules were examined in this study. The HCCs were treated with TAE. All patients underwent plain CT, power Doppler sonography, contrast-enhanced harmonic power Doppler sonography, and dynamic MRI 1 week after TAE. The sensitivity of each modality to incompletely treated HCC nodules was compared. Detection of the residual viable HCC on angiography or tumor biopsy was regarded as the gold standard for the diagnosis of incomplete treatment. Results Twenty-four nodules (38%) were diagnosed as incompletely treated. The sensitivities of plain CT, power Doppler sonography, contrast-enhanced harmonic power Doppler sonography, and dynamic MRI to these incompletely treated nodules were 42% (10/24), 46% (11/24), 88% (21/24), and 79% (19/24), respectively. Eighty percent (19 nodules) of the 24 incompletely treated nodules were located within a depth of less than 8 cm. The sensitivities of plain CT, power Doppler sonography, contrast-enhanced harmonic power Doppler sonography, and dynamic MRI to these superficial incompletely treated nodules were 37% (7/19), 53% (10/19), 100% (19/19), and 74% (14/19), respectively. In contrast, the sensitivities of each modality to deeply located nodules were 60% (3/5), 20% (1/5), 40% (2/5), and 100% (5/5), respectively. Conclusion Plain CT and power Doppler sonography had a low sensitivity to HCC nodules incompletely treated with TAE. Except for those that were deeply located, contrast-enhanced harmonic sonography showed the highest sensitivity in detecting incompletely treated HCC nodules.     

循证护理在肝动脉栓塞化疗术联合经皮射频消融治疗晚期肝癌患者中的应用

目的探讨循证护理在肝动脉栓塞化疗术(TACE)联合经皮射频消融术(RFA)治疗中晚期肝癌患者中的应用效果。方法对67例行TACE联合RFA治疗的患者,针对患者治疗前的心理问题,及治疗后出现的不良反应,以循证护理的方式进行护理。结果 67例患者均顺利完成治疗,治疗后病灶均有不同程度改变,采用循证护理后本组病例未发生严重并发症。结论循证护理应用到TACE联合RFA治疗中晚期肝癌患者中,能够有效促进患者康复,同时减少护理的盲目性,增加安全性。