Abstract
In this study, a microwave-induced ablation zone (thermal lesion) monitoring method based on ultrasound echo decorrelation imaging was proposed. A total of 15 cases of ex vivo porcine liver microwave ablation (MWA) experiments were carried out. Ultrasound radiofrequency (RF) signals at different times during MWA were acquired using a commercial clinical ultrasound scanner with a 7.5-MHz linear-array transducer. Instantaneous and cumulative echo decorrelation images of two adjacent frames of RF data were calculated. Polynomial approximation images were obtained on the basis of the thresholded cumulative echo decorrelation images. Experimental results showed that the instantaneous echo decorrelation images outperformed conventional B-mode images in monitoring microwave-induced thermal lesions. Using gross pathology measurements as the reference standard, the estimation of thermal lesions using the polynomial approximation images yielded an average accuracy of 88.60%. We concluded that instantaneous ultrasound echo decorrelation imaging is capable of monitoring the change of thermal lesions during MWA, and cumulative ultrasound echo decorrelation imaging and polynomial approximation imaging are feasible for quantitatively depicting thermal lesions.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors [1].Currently, surgical resection is considered to be the first choice for the treatment of HCC.due to factors such as the location and size of the tumor and the presence of blood vessels around the tumor, only a few patients are suitable for surgical resection
The results showed that the maximum cumulative decorrelation coefficients of normal liver tissues ranged from −0.4 to 0.4, and those of thermal lesions ranged from −1 to −0.4
The feasibility of monitoring microwave ablation (MWA) by ultrasound echo decorrelation imaging was proved by the MWA experiments of ex vivo porcine liver
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors [1].Currently, surgical resection is considered to be the first choice for the treatment of HCC.due to factors such as the location and size of the tumor and the presence of blood vessels around the tumor, only a few patients are suitable for surgical resection. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors [1]. Surgical resection is considered to be the first choice for the treatment of HCC. Due to factors such as the location and size of the tumor and the presence of blood vessels around the tumor, only a few patients are suitable for surgical resection. Thermal ablations have become an effective treatment for liver tumors. The physical mechanism is that the tissue temperature is raised to above 60 ◦ C by heating, which leads to coagulation necrosis of cancer cells, killing them. Thermal ablations have the advantages of minimal invasiveness and short recovery time after the procedure. The main techniques of thermal ablations are radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), high intensity focused ultrasound
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