Journal of Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound 2001;20(4): 257-266.
Evaluation of Residual Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization: Comparison between Contrast-Enhanced Helical CT and Contrast-Enhanced Power Doppler Ultrasonography.
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea. hklim@smc.samsung.co.kr
Published online: December 1, 2001.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced helical CT and contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) in assessing the therapeutic effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). MATERIALS and METHODS: The follow-up contrast-enhanced helical CT and contrast-enhanced PDUS were performed for twenty-nine nodular HCCs from twelve patients previously treated with TACE. We defined the residual HCCs as intratumoral enhancing area on contrast-enhanced helical CT and color signal on contrast-enhanced PDUS. The interval between two examinations was less than 2 weeks (mean, 9 days). Two radiologists evaluated two examinations by consensus, and the results of these two examination were compared with the findings of other examinations including CT, angiography, and/or pathology to calculate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of two examinations. RESULTS: Of the 29 HCCs, 20 had residual HCCs whereas no residual HCCs in 9 HCCs on pathologic examination and/or follow-up radiologic study. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of contrast-enhanced helical CT were 65 (13/20), 89 (8/9), and 72 % (21/29) while those of contrast-enhanced PDUS were 100 (20/20), 89 (8/9) and 97% (28/29), respectively. CONCLUSION: A microbubble contrast-enhanced PDUS was more effective in the detection of residual tumor in HCCs following TACE than contrast-enhanced helical CT.