MDCT assessment of HCC patient after radiofrequency ablation among Egyptian population: Preliminary experience

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluate the role of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in follow up HCC patients after radiofrequency ablation. Materials and methods: A prospective study was used to assess patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation for treatment of HCC nodules using MDCT. MDCT was done immediately after procedure to asses treatment success, then after one month for decision making; either good ablation or reablation for residual tumor if present. Three and six months follow up for detection of marginal growth or newly developed HCC nodules. One year MDCT follow up for true technical success. Results: MDCT findings were as follows: immediate evaluation showed good ablation in 29 patients (96.7%), and one patient showed residual tumor tissue reablated at the same session. In one month follow up nodular marginal enhancement denoting residual tumor was seen in 2 patients (6.7%). In three months follow up no residual tumor or recurrence (100%); in six months follow up recurrence was seen in one patient (3.4%) and another patient (3.4%) showed a new HCC focus. In one year follow up marginal recurrence was seen in three patients (10%). Conclusion: RF ablation is an internationally approved treatment for HCC. MDCT should be the corner stone method for follow to achieve better results and improve the survival rate via early detection and immediate interference with any new or recurrent lesions.

Keywords

• Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC)
• RF ablation
• MDCT