Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
Liver - Original Article

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in inconspicuous hepatocellular carcinoma on B-mode ultrasound

1.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea

Turk J Gastroenterol 2017; 28: 446-452
DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2017.17104
Read: 1822 Downloads: 757 Published: 25 July 2019

Abstract

Background/Aims: B-mode ultrasound (US) has difficulty targeting small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with poor conspicuity during radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can improve visualization of small or inconspicuous HCCs. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of CEUS-guided RFA electrode insertion during the arterial phase in inconspicuous HCCs.

 

Materials and Methods: Ninety-three treatment-naïve HCCs from 80 patients treated with RFA from August 2012 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-five HCCs from 65 patients underwent B-mode US-guided RFA, and 15 HCCs from 14 patients that were inconspicuous on B-mode US underwent CEUS-guided RFA during the arterial phase after injection of sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles (SonoVue®). Technical success was assessed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography within 1 week and 3 months after the procedure.

 

Results: The mean size of HCCs treated with CEUS-guided RFA was smaller than that of HCCs treated with B-mode US-guided RFA (1.17±0.36 vs. 1.63±0.55 cm, p=0.003). Technical success rates of CEUS-guided RFA within 1 week and 3 months were 100% (15/15) and 93.3% (14/15), respectively. Technical success rates of B-mode US-guided RFA were 97.3% (73/75) and 94.5% (69/73), respectively.

 

Conclusion: CEUS-guided RFA is highly efficacious for ablation of very small and inconspicuous HCCs.

 

 

Cite this article as: Kim EJ, Kim YS, Shin SK, Kwon OS, Choi DJ, Kim JH. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in inconspicuous hepatocellular carcinoma on B-mode ultrasound. Turk J Gastroenterol 2017; 28: 446-52.

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