The clinical application of contrast enhanced ultrasonography in radiofrequency ablation therapy for residual and recurrent hepatic neoplasms / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the clinical application of contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment for residual and recurrent hepatic neoplasms. Methods A total of 517 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or hepatic metastases with residual or recurrent hepatic neoplasms after different kinds of treatment were treated with RFA. A total of 619 lesions were used as study subjects. The average size of the 290 lesions detected in 281 patients with recurrent HCC was (3.4 ± 1.5) cm. CEUS-guided RFA group included 150 cases (154 lesions in total), while conventional US-guided RFA group included 131 cases (136 lesions in total). A total of 329 lesions were detected in 236 cases with recurrent hepatic metastases, and the mean size of the lesions was (3.1 ± 1.3) cm, of which CEUS-guided RFA group included 152 cases (198 lesions in total) and conventional US-guided RFA group included 84 cases (131 lesions in total). Results In recurrent HCC, the one-month tumor necrosis rate of CEUS group and conventional US group was 96.1% and 89.7% respectively (P = 0.032), and the local recurrence rate was 9.7% and 17.6% respectively (P = 0.049). The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. In recurrent hepatic metastases , the one-month tumor necrosis rate of CEUS group and conventional US group was 88.4% and 87.0% respectively (P = 0.712), and the local recurrence rate was 16.7% and 23.7%respectively (P = 0.117). No significant differences existed between the two groups. Conclusion For the treatment of recurrent HCC, CEUS-guided radiofrequency ablation can effectively improve the early necrosis rate and decrease local recurrence rate.