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Early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: the high accuracy of real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the assessment of response to percutaneous treatment

  • Achieving Optimal Diagnostic Yield Using Real-Time CEUS
  • Published:
European Radiology Supplements

Abstract

Image-guided tumor ablation has a major role in the therapeutic management of hepatocellular carcinoma and the assessment of the efficacy of percutaneous ablation is crucial for the management of cirrhotic patients. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is extremely sensitive in detecting the intratumoral microvasculature in real time, with the same sensitivity in the detection of residual HCC as CT. CEUS has some advantages. It can be used before and during the ablative procedure as a guide for percutaneous needle placement. Moreover, CEUS can be performed almost immediately after ablation to determine whether the tumor has been completely ablated or needs additional treatment that can be performed in the same session, improving the cost-effectiveness of the treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imaging Diagnosis Center, Hospital Clinic, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain

    Carlos Nicolau, Ramon Vilana, Luis Bianchi & Concepcio Brú

Authors
  1. Carlos Nicolau
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  2. Ramon Vilana
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  3. Luis Bianchi
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  4. Concepcio Brú
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Correspondence to Carlos Nicolau.

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Nicolau, C., Vilana, R., Bianchi, L. et al. Early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: the high accuracy of real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the assessment of response to percutaneous treatment. Eur Radiol Suppl 17 (Suppl 6), 80–88 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10406-007-0232-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10406-007-0232-7

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