Clin Mol Hepatol.  2014 Mar;20(1):61-70. 10.3350/cmh.2014.20.1.61.

Radiofrequency ablation of very-early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma inconspicuous on fusion imaging with B-mode US: value of fusion imaging with contrast-enhanced US

• Min JH
• Lim HK
• Lim S
• Kang TW
• Song KD
• Choi SY
• Rhim H
• Lee MW

• KMID: 1737600
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2014.20.1.61

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
To determine the value of fusion imaging with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance (MR) images for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of very-early-stage hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) that are inconspicuous on fusion imaging with B-mode ultrasound (US) and CT/MR images.
METHODS
This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board and the requirement for informed consent was waived. Fusion imaging with CEUS using Sonazoid contrast agent and CT/MR imaging was performed on HCCs (<2 cm) that were inconspicuous on fusion imaging with B-mode US. We evaluated the number of cases that became conspicuous on fusion imaging with CEUS. Percutaneous RFA was performed under the guidance of fusion imaging with CEUS. Technical success and major complication rates were assessed.
RESULTS
In total, 30 patients with 30 HCCs (mean, 1.2 cm; range, 0.6-1.7 cm) were included, among which 25 (83.3%) became conspicuous on fusion imaging with CEUS at the time of the planning US and/or RFA procedure. Of those 25 HCCs, RFA was considered feasible for 23 (92.0%), which were thus treated. The technical success and major complication rates were 91.3% (21/23) and 4.3% (1/23), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Fusion imaging with CEUS and CT/MR imaging is highly effective for percutaneous RFA of very-early-stage HCCs inconspicuous on fusion imaging with B-mode US and CT/MR imaging.

Keyword

Hepatocellular carcinoma; Radiofrequency ablation; Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; Sonazoid; Fusion imaging

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography
Catheter Ablation
Contrast Media/diagnostic use
Female
Ferric Compounds/diagnostic use
Humans
Iron/diagnostic use
Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Oxides/diagnostic use
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Contrast Media
Ferric Compounds
Iron
Oxides