ABSTRACT
Background: Intratumoral lipiodol deposition following transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the actual clinical significance of the imaging tests conducted to evaluate the lipiodol uptake after TACE. This study evaluates the clinical impact and potential utility of performing immediate post-TACE non-enhanced computed tomography (NECT) on the treatment of HCC. Methods: This retrospective study at a tertiary referral center included patients undergoing their first session of conventional TACE for initial treatment of HCC from November 2021 to December 2022 with available immediate post-TACE NECT. Patients were categorized based on lipiodol uptake into Cohorts A (incomplete uptake with additional treatment before the first follow-up 1 month after TACE), B incomplete uptake without additional treatment before first follow-up), and C (complete uptake). Survival curves for the time to progression (TTP) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared by using the log-rank test. Results: Out of 189 patients, 58 (29.6%) showed incomplete lipiodol uptake; 2 in Cohort A and 56 in Cohort B. Cohort C included 131 patients (69.3%). Cohort B had the highest rate of residual viable tumor (48.2%) 1 month after TACE, compared to the other cohorts (0% in Cohort A and 32.1% in Cohort C). The median TTP of Cohort B was 7.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.6-15.7 months], significantly shorter than the 15.4 months (95% CI: 10.9-20.9 months) for Cohort C (P=0.03). During follow-up, no progression occurred in Cohort A. Conclusions: Assessment of lipiodol uptake by performing immediate post-TACE NECT can stratify HCC patients and facilitate early prediction of therapeutic response. Identifying suboptimal lipiodol uptake immediately after TACE can aid future treatment adjustments and potentially improving oncologic outcomes.
