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Hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radio frequency ablation: An early evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging
Author(s) -
Khankan Azzam A.,
Murakami Takamichi,
Onishi Hiromitsu,
Matsushita Masaki,
Iannaccone Riccardo,
Aoki Yoshiko,
Tono Takeshi,
Kim Tonsok,
Hori Masatoshi,
Osuga Keigo,
Passariello Roberto,
Nakamura Hironobu
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21050
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , ablation , nodule (geology) , percutaneous , nuclear medicine , carcinoma , pathology , paleontology , biology
Purpose To determine the usefulness of nonenhanced T1‐weighted spoiled gradient‐recalled acquisition in the steady‐state (SPGR) MRI in the early assessment of the efficacy of radio frequency (RF) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods A total of 23 patients with 28 HCC nodules treated with percutaneous RF ablation underwent nonenhanced MRI within two days after the RF procedure and contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT) one week after. MR assessment of ablation efficacy according to the concentric zonal pattern on T1‐weighted SPGR imaging was compared with the one‐week CT and presence of local recurrence by means of follow‐up study for 12 months or more. Results In 18 of 28 ablated nodules, SPGR images revealed a central hyperintense zone covering the entire tumor, CT showed a nonenhanced area covering the entire tumor, and no local recurrence was demonstrated in the follow‐up studies. In nine of 28 nodules, the central hyperintense zone did not cover the entire tumor; and local recurrence was demonstrated in three nodules. In the remaining one nodule, no signal change was seen in the treated area on SPGR images and CT showed the presence of residual viable tumor. Conclusion Nonenhanced T1‐weighted MRI was considered useful for early assessment of the efficacy of RF therapy for HCC. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.