ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the usefulness and necessity of spiral computer tomography (SCT) and color-Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods Plain SCT scanning and contrast-enhanced SCT scanning or / and CDU were performed for 68 HCCs before and four weeks after TACE. Factors related to overall survival (OS) were observed as tumor size necrosis, relapse, lipiodol deposition, blood supply of the survived tumor. Images of SCT and CDU were compared. Clinical significance obtained through direction of diagnostic radiology was evaluated. Results 139 masses observed in the 68 cases were shranked or necrotized in a different degree after TACE. 8 new metastasized massed were observed. Complete lipiodol deposition was observed in 27 masses and no lipiodol deposition in 14 masses. As for estimating the types of lipiodol deposition, SCT was better than CDU with significant difference. SCT could indirectly estimate the blood supply of tumor after TACT through 3 dynamic enhanced phases, while CDU could directly visualize the hemodynamic changes of liver, internal and peripheral parts of the tumor. Conclusion TACE is an effective way to treating HCC. SCT scanning and / or CDU are necessary before and after TACE to estimate the imaging changes so as to provide indispensable information for the best therapeutic schedule in the future.