Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Small (1–2 cm) Hepatocellular Carcinomas Inconspicuous on B-Mode Ultrasonographic Imaging: Usefulness of Combined Fusion Imaging with MRI and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography
Table 3
Baseline characteristics of 19 patients who underwent percutaneous CEUS-added FI-guided RFA.
Characteristics
n = 19
Age (mean ± SD, y) (range)
63.9 ± 9.3 (50–81)
Sex (female) [number (%)]
5 (26.3)
Etiology (HBV/HCV/other) [number (%)]
10 (52.6)/2 (10.5)/7 (36.8)
Liver cirrhosis [number (%)]
10 (52.6)
HCC history [number (%)]
None
3(15.8)
Resection
3(15.8)
RFA
2(10.5)
TACE
6(31.6)
Other
5(26.3)
Child-Pugh class (A/B) [number (%)]
19 (100)/0 (0)
Albumin (mean ± SD, g/dl)
4.1 ± 0.4
Total bilirubin (mean ± SD, mg/dl)
1.0 ± 0.5
PT (mean ± SD, INR)
1.14 ± 0.11
Serum AFP (mean ± SD, ng/ml)
8.5 ± 7.3
Tumor size (mean ± SD, cm) (range)
1.2 ± 0.2 (1.0–1.8)
Segment [number (%)]
I
0 (0)
II
1 (5.3)
III
2 (10.5)
IV
1 (5.3)
V
6 (31.6)
VI
3 (15.8)
VII
4 (21.1)
VIII
2 (10.5)
Subcapsular location (yes) [numbers (%)]
5 (26.3)
Subphrenic location (yes) [numbers (%)]
5 (26.3)
Time interval between MR imaging and planning US (mean ± SD, days) (range)
12.4 ± 6.8 (2–31)
Time interval between planning US and RFA (mean ± SD, days) (range)
12.9 ± 8.0 (0–32)
Conspicuity score (median, range)
3, 3–4 (before CEUS)
1, 1–4 (after CEUS)
Follow-up after RFA (median, range) (months)
30.2, 14.0–36.9
Data are presented as the number of patients or tumors with percentages in parentheses, unless otherwise specified. AFP = α-fetoprotein; FI = fusion imaging; HBV = hepatitis B virus; HCV = hepatitis C virus; INR = international normalized ratio; PT = prothrombin time; RFA = radiofrequency ablation; TACE = transcatheter arterial chemoembolization; SD = standard deviation. Subcapsular location was defined as when the index tumor abutted the liver capsule. Subphrenic location was defined as when the index tumor was located within 1 cm from the diaphragm [6].
