Hepatocellular carcinoma treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: influence factors of local efficacy analyzed by parametric contrast enhanced ultrasound

Abstract

Objective To analyze the influence factors of local efficacy by parametric contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and to investigate the application value of parametric CEUS in TACE. Methods From August 2011 to March 2014, a total of 61 HCC patients [60 men, 1 women; age range: 18-76 years, mean age: (53±13)years old] who underwent one procedure of TACE were enrolled in this prospective study. All cases were scanned by CEUS 1-7 days before and after TACE (3 days, 15 days and 30 days post-TACE). Analysis of tumor perfusion during the procedure of CEUS was performed with dedicated software (SonoLiver, TomTec, Germany and Bracco, Italy). Time-intensity curves were plotted and parameters were extracted. According to modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST), we evaluated the response of TACE using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and CEUS 30 days after TACE, which was as reference standard. Results There was a middle negative correlation between the reference standard and the PSV of the hepatic artery pre-TACE, and the correlation coefficient was 0.436 (P=0.011). There was a low negative correlation between the reference standard and the TTP of the reference region on 3 days post-TACE and the analysis region pre-TACE, and the correlation coefficient was -0.264 and -0.268 (P=0.047, P=0.037). Conclusions Our preliminary study suggests, some parameters of CEUS can predict the local response of TACE. Key words: Ultrasonography; Angiography; Embolization, therapeutic; Hepatic artery; Carcinoma, hepatocellular