Herman P Marquez1, Amar Karalli2, Holger Haubenreisser3, Rishi P Mathew1, Hatem Alkadhi1, Torkel B Brismar2, Thomas Henzler3, Michael A Fischer4. 1. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. 2. Division of Medical Imaging and Technology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, SE-14186, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, D-68167, Mannheim, Germany. 4. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: dr.michael.fischer@gmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To prospectively monitor changes in tumor perfusion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in response to doxorubicin-eluted bead based transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) using perfusion-CT (P-CT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: 24 patients (54-79 years) undergoing P-CT before and shortly after DEB-TACE of HCC were prospectively included in this dual-center study. Two readers determined arterial-liver-perfusion (ALP, mL/min/100mL), portal-venous-perfusion (PLP, mL/min/100mL) and the hepatic-perfusion-index (HPI, %) by placing matched regions-of-interests within each HCC before and after DEB-TACE. Imaging follow-up was used to determine treatment response and to distinguish complete from incomplete responders. Performance of P-CT for prediction and early response assessment was determined using receiver-operating-characteristics curve analysis. RESULTS: Interreader agreement was fair to excellent (ICC, 0.716-0.942). PLP before DEB-TACE was significantly higher in pre-treated vs non-treated lesions (P<0.05). Mean changes of ALP, PLP and HPI from before to after DEB-TACE were -55%, +24% and -27%. ALP and HPI after DEB-TACE were correlating with response-grades (r=0.45/0.48; both, p<0.04), showing an area-under-the-curve (AUC) of 0.74 and 0.80 respectively for identification of complete response. CONCLUSION: High arterial and low portal-venous perfusion of HCC early after DEB-TACE indicates incomplete response with good diagnostic accuracy.
PURPOSE: To prospectively monitor changes in tumor perfusion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in response to doxorubicin-eluted bead based transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) using perfusion-CT (P-CT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: 24 patients (54-79 years) undergoing P-CT before and shortly after DEB-TACE of HCC were prospectively included in this dual-center study. Two readers determined arterial-liver-perfusion (ALP, mL/min/100mL), portal-venous-perfusion (PLP, mL/min/100mL) and the hepatic-perfusion-index (HPI, %) by placing matched regions-of-interests within each HCC before and after DEB-TACE. Imaging follow-up was used to determine treatment response and to distinguish complete from incomplete responders. Performance of P-CT for prediction and early response assessment was determined using receiver-operating-characteristics curve analysis. RESULTS: Interreader agreement was fair to excellent (ICC, 0.716-0.942). PLP before DEB-TACE was significantly higher in pre-treated vs non-treated lesions (P<0.05). Mean changes of ALP, PLP and HPI from before to after DEB-TACE were -55%, +24% and -27%. ALP and HPI after DEB-TACE were correlating with response-grades (r=0.45/0.48; both, p<0.04), showing an area-under-the-curve (AUC) of 0.74 and 0.80 respectively for identification of complete response. CONCLUSION: High arterial and low portal-venous perfusion of HCC early after DEB-TACE indicates incomplete response with good diagnostic accuracy.