Background/Aim
s: The aim of this study is to evaluate the concordance of contrast-enhanced
ultrasonography (CEUS) and lipiodol computed tomography (L-CT) for the assessment of
viable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the post-TACE CEUS and L-CT images of 65
consecutive HCCs in 41 patients to assess the presence of viable tumor tissue. Forty-seven
HCCs in 31 patients that underwent post-TACE L-CT within 4 weeks of the CEUS examination
were included. The degree of concordance between CEUS and L-CT and factors related to
concordance were analyzed.
Results
The overall concordance of CEUS and LDCT was 78.7% (37/47). The concordance with
L-CT for viable tumor and non-viable tumor tissue on CEUS was 95.2%, and 65.4% respectively
(P<0.013). Diffuse tumors had a tendency for non-concordance (P=0.066). Although 3 of 4
lesions located in the hepatic dome were non-concordant, the sample size was too small to
establish significance. The mean tumor size for concordant and non-concordant tumors was
2.9 and 3.0 cm, with no significant difference.
Conclusions
Although the concordance of CEUS and L-CT for viable tumor tissue was
high, the concordance for non-viable tumor tissue was relatively low. Prospective studies
using angiography as a gold standard should be performed in the future. (J Liver Cancer
2014;14:115-119)