RESUMO
Objective To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced coded harmonic angio (CHA) in evaluating the therapeutic response to combinational treatment of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Nineteen patients with 28 HCCs underwent percutaneous RFA in one week after TAE. The therapeutic response was assessed by contrast-enhanced CHA and three-phase dynamic CT in one week before and after the treatment. Results After TAE and RFA, no enhancement was demonstrated in 20 HCCs (71.4%) on contrast-enhanced CHA, which were considered to be completely treated. of the 20 HCCs, no blood signal was identified in 18 on dynamic CT and the conclusion cannot be drawn in the other 2 nodules due to the retention of iodized oil. On contrast-enhanced CHA, enhanced blood signals or tumor stains were identified in the remaining eight HCCs, however, four of the eight could not be evaluated on dynamic CT because of the retention of iodized oil. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can effectively evaluate the treatment response of HCC in combinational therapies of TAE and RFA. It is superior to three-phase dynamic CT for no influence by retention of iodized oil.