Efficacy of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Takahiro Dohmen; Ei Kataoka; Ikuhiro Yamada; Kouichi Miura; Shigetoshi Ohshima; Tomomi Shibuya; Daisuke Segawa; Wataru Sato; Yumiko Anezaki; Hajime Ishii; Kentaro Kamada; Takashi Goto; Hirohide Ohnishi

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6042

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Efficacy of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography in Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Takahiro Dohmen, Ei Kataoka, Ikuhiro Yamada, Kouichi Miura, Shigetoshi Ohshima, Tomomi Shibuya, Daisuke Segawa, Wataru Sato, Yumiko Anezaki, Hajime Ishii, Kentaro Kamada, Takashi Goto, Hirohide Ohnishi

Author information

Takahiro Dohmen
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Ei Kataoka
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Ikuhiro Yamada
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Kouichi Miura
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Shigetoshi Ohshima
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Tomomi Shibuya
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Daisuke Segawa
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Wataru Sato
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Yumiko Anezaki
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Hajime Ishii
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Kentaro Kamada
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Takashi Goto
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Hirohide Ohnishi
Department of Gastroenterology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan

Keywords: contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, radiofrequency ablation, hepatocellular carcinoma, radicality, local recurrence

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2012 Volume 51 Issue 1 Pages 1-7

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6042

Details

Abstract

Objective Local recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a major problem that needs to resolved to increase the survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CE-US with Sonazoid^®, the second-generation contrast media, can detect smaller HCC lesions and the detection rate of ultrasonically unrecognized hypervascular HCC was improved by CE-US. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of CE-US with Sonazoid^® in improving radicality and reducing local recurrence after RFA for HCC.
Patients and Methods A total of 102 nodules treated by RFA at our hospital from January 2006 to October 2009 were enrolled: 31 nodules were treated without CE-US, since CE-US was not yet available (Group A), and 71 nodules were treated with a combination of RFA and CE-US with Sonazoid^® (Group B).
Results The clinical characteristics (sex, virus marker, Child-Pugh grade, with or without transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy with lipiodol, and T factor) did not differ significantly between group A and group B. Mean age was significantly older and tumor size was significantly larger in group B. Group B had significantly better radicality compared with group A. The non-local recurrence rate was significantly higher in group B as compared with group A.
Conclusion CE-US with Sonazoid^® greatly helps to improve RFA efficacy in HCC treatment. We suggest that the ability of CE-US with Sonazoid^® to detect an accurate area of HCC before RFA and to immediately detect a residual tumor during RFA might contribute to an increase of the radicality and reduction of local recurrence after RFA.

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!