Radiofrequency thermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: Assessment of therapeutic effect with contrast-enhanced pulse inversion and intermittent imaging

The ability of contrast-enhanced Pulse Inversion Imaging (PI) and Intermittent Imaging (II) in evaluating the response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation is investigated. Thirty patients with 42 HCC nodules 1-5 cm in diameter underwent contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound (US) after RF thermal ablation. The evaluation is performed with PI and II acquiring images in arterial and portal phases. Findings at dual-phase spiral CT are used to establish the outcome of therapy. Contrast-enhanced PI and II shows promise in assessing the therapeutic effect of RF thermal ablation on HCC and in guiding additional RF procedures in cases of incomplete response.