The Evaluation of Helical CT for Malignant Hepatic Tumors with Radio-frequency Ablation Therapy(RFA) / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the role of helical CT in the long-term follow-up of patients with malignant hepatic tumors treated with RFA. Methods CT findings of patients with liver malignant tumors (29 hepatocellular carcinomas and 7 metastases) were reviewed retrospectively, who underwent percutaneous ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA). CT images consisted of nonenhanced and dual-phase contrast-enhanced helical CT scan, the effect of ablation therapy and tumor recurrence were detected. Results The major patterns of tumor residual or local recurrence were the lesions with thick rim or nodular peripheral enhancement in arterial phase or the lesions with gross enlargement on follow-up CT images. The complete necrosis lesions in 28 cases (77.8%) were seen on the initial postablation CT scans after a single session RFA. On the subsequent follow-up CT examination, the local intra-hepatic tumor recurrences were seen in 2 cases (5.6%) as well as the remote intra-hepatic tumor recurrences were seen in 4 cases (11.1%).Conclusion For certain patients with hepatic malignant tumors, RFA is an effective therapeutic method, and dual-phase contrast enhanced helical CT scans play a important role in long-term assessment and follow-up of patients.