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Hepatic transit time: indicator of the therapeutic response to radiofrequency ablation of liver tumours

¹ Department of Ultrasound, Department of Medicine I, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Ulmenweg 18, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany and ² Ultrasound Department, Union Hospital, Hua Zhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, P. R. China

View larger version (55K): [in a new window]   Figure 1. Hepatic transit time calculated using the time intensity curve (TIC) software in a patient with liver metastasis before radiofrequency ablation. Left curve: arrival of contrast agent in the hepatic artery; right curve: arrival of contrast agent in the hepatic vein.

View larger version (142K): [in a new window]   Figure 2. 57-year-old man with liver metastases of hypernephroma. Before radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment, hepatic transit time (HTT) was 6 s. 1 month after RFA HTT increased up to 12 s while contrast-enhanced ultrasound and MRI show complete ablation. (a) Conventional ultrasound before RFA showing one liver nodule (arrow), diameter 2.4 cm. (b) MRI T1 weighted image showing the same tumour (arrow). (c) Contrast-enhanced ultrasound after RFA showing complete necrosis. (d) Contrast-enhanced MRI T1 weighted image showing the same area after RFA.

View larger version (11K): [in a new window]   Figure 3. Diagram showing hepatic transit times (HTT) before and after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) ( patients showing complete response after RFA, patients with incomplete response).