Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Neoplasia, Metastases, Cancer, Imaging sequences, Contrast agent-intravenous, Ablation procedures, MR-Functional imaging, MR, CT, Liver, Interventional non-vascular, Abdomen
Authors:
D. K. Filippiadis, M. Mademli, A. Mazioti, N. Oikonomopoulos, S. Argentos, A. D. Kelekis, N. L. Kelekis; Athens/GR
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-1376
Conclusion
Accurate interpretation of post-ablation imaging findings is crucial for therapeutic and follow-up strategies.
Computed Tomography (CT) can be used for the immediate assessment of the ablation (including efficacy and potential complications) or whenever MRI is not available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays the most important role in patients’ follow-up post liver thermal ablation therapies.
DW-MR imaging has proved its promising character for the noninvasive assessment of tumor response to thermal ablation and prediction of tumor response.
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) is a promising imaging modality for tumor response assessment and prediction but further studies are necessary.
Furthermore,
disease progression cannot be evaluated when CEUS is solely performed.
Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography - computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging is increasingly used for tumor response and therapy appreciation post ablation with potentially earlier detection of residual or recurrent tumor.
However,
further studies are necessary in order to clarify limitations of the modality and avoid false-negative or false-positive results.