Jin Woong Kim MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sang Soo Shin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Suk Hee Heo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyo Soon Lim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yong-Yeon Jeong MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Heoung-Keun Kang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the effect of the amount of lipiodol uptake within HCC, which were infused during TACE before RFA, on treatment efficacy when performing combined therapy of TACE and RFA for medium-sized HCC.

A total of 106 consecutive patients (mean age, 63 years) with 124 HCCs (mean± SD, 3 cm ± 0.8), who underwent combined therapy of TACE and RFA for HCCs, were included in this study. All patients had single (n=88) or two (n=18) HCCs ranging between 2 cm and 5 cm. According to amount of lipiodol uptake within HCC, which was evaluated on angiographic CT images, patients were classified into 3 groups [compact (> 75%), defective (25% ~ 75%), faint or no uptake (<25%)]. Patients were followed up for 1.1 ~ 68.6 months (mean± SD, 26.1 ± 13.4). Among 3 groups, technical success, technical effectiveness and rates of local tumor progression were compared according to per-lesion-based analyses. Three groups were compared regarding incidence of complications, rates of recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates based on per-patient-based analyses. Statistical analyses were conducted with Chi-square test, one-way ANOVA statistics and Kaplan-Meier method.

Regarding amount of lipiodol uptake, 106 patients and 124 HCCs were classified as compact (n=59 and 67, respectively), defective (n=35 and 43, respectively), faint or no uptake (n=12 and 14, respectively) group. There were no significant differences in patients’ demographics and characteristics of HCCs among 3 groups (P > 0.05). The technical success and effectiveness were achieved in 124 (100%) and 122 (98.4%), respectively, of 124 HCCs. The local tumor progression occurred in 5 (7.5%) of 67 HCCs with compact uptake, 6 (14%) of 43 HCCs with defective uptake, and 1 (7.1%) of 14 HCCs with faint or no uptake (P > 0.05).There were no statistically significant differences among 3 groups regarding incidence of complications, rates of recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates(P > 0.05).

The amount of lipiodol uptake within HCC played little role in terms of treatment efficacy when performing combined therapy of TACE and RFA for medium-sized HCC.

Synergistic effects of combined therapy of TACE and RFA for medium-sized HCC appear to root from decreased arterial blood flow induced by TACE, irrespective of the amount of lipiodol uptake within the tumor.

Kim, J, Shin, S, Heo, S, Lim, H, Jeong, Y, Kang, H, Combined Therapy of TACE and RFA for Medium-sized Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Is Treatment Efficacy Affected by Amount of Lipiodol Uptake within the Tumor?.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14045631.html