The application of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in immediate distinguishing residual tumour from benign periablational enhancement after hepatocellular carcinoma radiofrequency ablation

Yue Ma, Yang Li, Min Zhu, Shi-yu Wang, Feng-rong Yang, Yu-qing Xu, Ru Yang, Ban-ban Wu, Yi-xue Sun

Abstract


Aim: This study set out to access the performance of quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in distinguishing between benign periablational enhancement (BPE) and residual tumor (RT) following radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Materials and methods: 165 tumors from 124 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma between 2021 and 2023 underwent RFA, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), and CEUS in less than 24 hours. Analysis was done on the quantitative parameters from RT and BPE found by CEUS.

Results: Complete ablation was obtained in 89.1% of lesions. When compared to BPE, RT had significantly greater peak intensity (PI), time to peak (TTP), area under the curve (AUC), ratio of PI and base intensity (PI/BI), and enhanced intensity (EI) values (all p<0.05). PI, TTP, AUC, PI/BI, and EI had large areas under the receiver operating (ROC) curves. A binary logistic regression analysis, respectively, demonstrated that PI and PI/BI were independent favorable prognostic variables.

Conclusions: Multiple parameters of quantitative analysis of CEUS can aid in distinguishing immediately between RT and BPE lesions. PI and PI/BI may be a more promising parameter. Immediate CEUS evaluation following RFA may allow immediate retreatment of RT during the same operation time, which reduces patients’ hospital stays and financial costs. 


Keywords


residual tumor; hepatocellular carcinoma; benign periablational enhancement; dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; radiofrequency ablation

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11152/mu-4394

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