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Subject Area

Neuropsychiatry

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective This paper aims to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Background HCC is the most common primary cancer of the liver. RFA has become a widely used treatment for HCC, with some studies reporting significant long-term survival results. DW MRI had been investigated for assessment of treatment response to RFA. Patients and methods From October 2016 to May 2017, 30 patients with 30 lesions diagnosed as HCC had undergone DW MRI after RFA. The results were compared with the abdominal triphasic spiral computed tomography, which was used as the reference standard. Results The study included 30 patients with 30 HCC lesions. After RFA, there were 12 (40%) lesions with residual HCC activity and 18 (60%) adequately managed lesions. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient value in residual lesions was significantly lower than the mean apparent diffusion coefficient value in ablated lesions (P < 0.001). DW MRI had a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 97%. Conclusion DW MRI was complementary for abdominal triphasic spiral computed tomography in the assessment of tumor response after RFA. Diffusion-weighted MRI is considered to be capable of evaluating the response to therapy of HCC.

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