CT analysis of hepatic cancer after radiofrequency ablation

Objective:To evaluate the last therapy effect of hepatic cancer treated with radiofrequency ablation by spiral CT.Methods:The variety of the tumor size and density before and after radiofrequency ablation,the shape and extent of coagulative necrosis and the characteristics of the CT enhancement scan after treatment were observed in 35 lesions of 35 cases of hepatic cancer.Hepatic artery embolization therapy with lipiodol and gelfoam were performed in 23 cases before treatment.Results:The tumor enlarged after 5 minute of radiofrequency ablation in 35 cases of hepatic cancer. The most diameter of the tumor were 5.75±2.84cm and 6.22±1.12cm before and after treatment,there were no significant difference (P0.05).The CT value of lesions decreased after 5 minutes of radiofrequency ablation. The CT value of lesions were 45.3±6.32HU and 32.8±7.8HU before and after 5 minutes of radiofrequency ablation,there were significant difference (P0.05).94.28%(33/35) lesions had coagulative necrosis to a certain extent after 5 minutes of treatment.For 1～11 months of follow up (averaging 4 months),the size of 71% lesions decreased(25/35),29%(10/35) increased,the CT values of all lesions decreased 11HU±.No enhancement in 5 lesions of coagulative necrosis and nodular enhancement in 5 residual lesions were showed in 10 cases of contrast CT scan.Conclusion:CT is a useful method to assess the therapy effect of hepatic cancer treated by radiofrequency ablation.Our results suggested that the effectiveness is improved when radiofrequency ablation combined with hepatic artery embolization therapy using lipiodol.