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Abstract Details
Predicting Long-Term Hepatocellular Carcinoma Response to Transarterial Radioembolization Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound: Initial Experiences
Ultrasound Med Biol. 2021 Jun 12;S0301-5629(21)00218-0.doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.05.006. Online ahead of print.
Lauren J Delaney1, Mohamed Tantawi1, Corinne E Wessner1, Priscilla Machado1, Flemming Forsberg1, Andrej Lyshchik1, Patrick O'Kane1, Ji-Bin Liu1, Jesse Civan2, Allison Tan1, Kevin Anton1, Colette M Shaw1, John R Eisenbrey3
Author information
1Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
2Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
3Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: john.eisenbrey@jefferson.edu.
Abstract
Conventional cross-sectional imaging done shortly after radioembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) does not reliably predict long-term response to treatment. This study evaluated whether quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can predict the long-term response of HCC to yttrium-90 (Y-90) treatment. Fifteen patients underwent CEUS at three time points: immediately following treatment and 1 and 2 wk post-treatment. Response 3-6 mo after treatment was categorized on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging by two experienced radiologists using the Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. CEUS data were analyzed by quantifying tumor perfusion and residual fractional vascularity using time-intensity curves. Patients with stable disease on magnetic resonance imaging had significantly greater fractional vascularity 2 wk post-treatment (65.15%) than those with partial or complete response (13.8 ± 9.9%, p = 0.007, and 14.9 ± 15.4%, p = 0.009, respectively). Complete responders had lower tumor vascularity at 2 wk than at post-operative examination (-38.3 ± 15.4%, p = 0.045). Thus, this pilot study suggests CEUS may provide an earlier indication of Y-90 treatment response than cross-sectional imaging.