RESUMEN
Background: hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is the most common primary liver malignancy. Surgical resection and local ablative therapies represent the most frequent first lines therapies adopted when liver transplantation cannot be offered
Aim of the work: this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of DWI and the corresponding ADC values to detect tumor response after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma
Patients and methods: MR examinations were done for 20 HCC patients post-RFA. Pre and post gadolinium enhanced images as well as DW sequences were performed. ADC values of ablation zones and liver parenchyma were assessed. ADC values of ablation zones and adjacent signal alterations identified in DWI were analyzed
Results: residual or recurrent lesions were detected in 4 patients [20%]. The mean ADC value of ablated zones differed significantly from that of normal liver parenchyma. The corresponding ADC values were significantly lower in patients with residual lesion than in patients without residual lesion
Conclusion: it can be concluded that DWI is a feasible follow-up tool for post ablation liver contributing in detection of residual lesion