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Jun-Gong
Zhao, Ming-Hua Li, Ying-Sheng Cheng, Department of Radiology,
Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai
200233, China
Gan-Sheng Feng, Xiang-Quan Kong, Xin Li, Department of
Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei
Province,
China
Correspondence to: Dr. Jun -Gong Zhao, Department of
Radiology, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong
University, Shanghai 200233, China. zhaojun_gong@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-21-64369181
Fax: +86-21-64701361
Received: 2003-10-24
Accepted: 2004-12-29
Abstract
AIM: To assess the vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)
with the quantitative parameters obtained by first pass perfusion
weighted MR imaging (FP-MRI).
METHODS: Seventeen consecutive patients with one to three lesions in
liver underwent FP-MRI before treatment. FP-MRI was also performed
one, three, six, nine months, and one year after TACE. The baseline
signal intensity (S0) of pre-TACE and one month after TACE was
analyzed, the vascularity of HCC assessed by steepest slope of the
signal intensity versus time curves (SS) was blindly correlated with
their DSA feature and clinical outcome.
RESULT: No significant difference was found on baseline signal
intensity (S0) between pre-TACE and one month after TACE (F=0.309,
P=0.583), The SS (mean, 32% per second) of lesion one month
after TACE was lower than that of pre-TACE (mean, 69% per second),
but with no statistical significance (F=3.067, P=0.092).
When local recurrence occurred, the time intensity curves became
steeper. The vascularity of HCC before and after TACE graded by SS
closely correlated with that by DSA (K=0.453, P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: FP-MRI is a useful criterion for selecting effective
interventional treatment for patients with HCC in their initial
treatment and during follow up.
Zhao JG, Feng GS, Kong
XQ, Li X, Li MH, Cheng YS. Assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma
vascularity before and after transcatheter arterial
chemoembolization by using first pass perfusion weighted MR imaging.
World J Gastroenterol 2004;
10(8): 1152-1156
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/10/1152.asp
INTRODUCTION
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been applied
as an effective therapy to improve the survival rate in unresectable
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to decrease the recurrence of
resected HCC[1,2]. The efficacy of TACE usually depends
on the vascularity (arterial blood supply) of HCC, that is, when HCC
with hypervascularity, TACE is effective, otherwise, the efficacy of
TACE is poor[3,4], other ablation methods such as
percutaneous radiofrequency and percutaneous ethanol injection are
needed[5-8]. Furthermore, since TACE is difficult to kill
the entire tumor cells at one time, and it is generally used
repeatedly or in combination with other ablation modalities. So it
is essential to evaluate the tumor vascularity and its distribution
before TACE and during follow up. Angiography is the golden standard
to evaluate the tumor vascularity, but it is an invasive technique
and is therefore not suitable for routine follow up. Generally,
computed tomographic (CT) images could be considered as a routine
modality to judge the efficacy of TACE depending upon the
homogeneous and completely deposition of lipiodol within the lesion,
but previous results indicated that even in lipiodol retention area
there were viable tumor cells[9]. So it is difficult to
access the viability and necrosis of the tumor correctly depending
upon the deposition of lipiodol. On the other hand, viable tumors
could be enhanced on CT contrast scanning[10,11], but the
enhancement area within the lesions could also be affected by
artifacts of the high concentrations of lipiodol, which could
somewhat disturb the evaluation of vascularity during follow up.
Although power Doppler ultrasonography was used to assess tumor
vascularity, the detected velocities in the tumor were too slow to
be detected, there were too many blooming artifacts associated with
micro-bubble injection as well as artifacts resulted from
respiration, and the duration of enhancement was short. So
vascularity of tumors can not be evaluated in detail by power
Doppler US[12,13].
T1 weighted FP-MRI with
excellent temporal resolution (more than one imaging per second) has
been used to assess tumor angiogenesis of uterine cervical
carcinoma, and has a good correlation with microvessel density (MVD)[14].
The purpose of this study was to monitor the angiogenesis of HCC
before and after TACE by FP-MRI compared with angiography and
patient outcome, and to find out its feasibility and value in
assessing vascularity of HCC.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between December 2000 and March 2002, patients with HCC included
in this study fulfilled the following criteria, namely three or less
HCC nodules and no portal thrombosis or extrahepatic metastasis.
Seventeen patients (15 males, 2 females) were enrolled in this
study. The age was 31-69 years, mean 48.5 years. The diagnosis of
HCC was confirmed by fine needle biopsy.
Digital subtraction
angiography (DSA) was performed through the celiac or hepatic
artery, HCC were classified into the following 3 groups on the basis
of vascularity by two angiographers independently who had no
information on the current study: Grade A, tumors with more
vascularity than nontumorous hepatic parenchyma; Grade B, tumors
with vascularity similar to that of nontumorous hepatic parenchyma;
and Grade C, tumors with less vascularity than Grade B tumors.
TACE was performed by injection of 8-10 mg mitomycin C mixed
30-50 mg doxorubicin and 10 mL of lipiodol (Guerbet, Roissy, France)
in either the right or left segmental branch of hepatic artery.
Embolization was subsequently completed with gelform powder and a
small amount of contrast medium under fluoroscopic guidance.
Before TACE and one,
three, six, nine months, and one year after first TACE, patients
with HCC underwent MR imaging by using a 1.5 T system (Magnetom
Vision, Siemens Medical Systems) with a phased array coil, including
T1WI (TR=525 ms, TE= 14 ms), T2WI (TR= 4.4 ms, TE=90 ms) and FP-MRI
scanning. T1WI and T2WI were used to identify the satisfactory plan
and section for perfusion study. For the FP-MRI, a strong
T1-weighted, turbo-FLASH sequence was used with a high temporal
resolution of 1.196 s per section, two axial or coronal images (TR=3.3
ms, TE=1.4 ms, TI=300 ms) were acquired sequentially with 65
repetitions. At the end of the 4th acquisition, a total dose of 0.1
mmol/kg body mass of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Bellona, Beijing,
China) was administered intravenously; 10 mL of saline was
immediately flushed to ensure completely delivery of the entire dose
of gadopentetate dimeglumine.
To quantitative analysis of FP-MRI, four circular region of
interesting (ROI) were drawn, signal intensity time curve was
obtained over ROI, the baseline signal intensity (S0) of pre-TACE
and one month after TACE (that is, the signal on FP-MRI without
gadopentetate dimeglumine) and the steepest slope of the curve (SS)
were calculated according to previous method[14]. When
the nodules were similar to that of nontumorous hepatic parenchyma,
they were classified into group II, while the nodules had larger or
smaller SS than those of nontumorous hepatic parenchyma, and they
were classified into group I or group III respectively.
All data were expressed
as meanąSD, comparison was made by ANOVA, and the correlation
between SS and DSA was assessed by Kappa statistic analysis.
Significance was accepted when P<0.05.
RESULTS
Lesion signal intensity characteristics before and after TACE
MR studies were performed 53 times in 17 patients,
twenty-nine lesions were evaluated, the mean size of which was 6 cm
(range, 2-16 cm). Almost all the lesions assessed before TACE were
hypo- to isointense relative to the surrounding liver parenchyma on
T1-weighted images, and the most portion of tumors was iso- to
hyperintense relative to the surrounding liver parenchyma on
T2-weighted images, and the heterogeneous signal intensity was
observed when liquefied necrosis or fat degeneration occurred. All
the lesions demonstrated inhomogeneous enhancement on the FP-MRI.
One month after TACE, all the lesions also demonstrated hypo-to
isointense relative to the surrounding liver parenchyma on
T1-weighted images. The signal intensity became higher on
T2-weighted images compared to that of pre-TACE. No significant
difference was found on S0 between pre-TACE and one month after TACE
(F=0.309, P=0.583) (Table 1), only rim enhancement was
found on FP-MRI in all the patients.
Quantitative analysis of HCC angiogenesis before and after
TACE
Time intensity curves derived from ROIs drawn in the
most-enhancing portion of the tumor before TACE showed different
enhancement patterns: Type A (10 cases, 59%) showed a rapid initial
increase in signal intensity followed by a plateau, representing
hypervascularity. Type B (7cases, 41%), however, showed a slow
initial increase in signal intensity followed by a plateau,
indicating mild hypervascularity or hypovascularity of the tumor
(Figure 1). The SS (mean, 40%) in three patients with arterioportal
shunting associated with HCC was lower than the mean value of total
patients (mean, 69% per second).
After TACE, Time
intensity curves drawn in the rim-enhancing portion of the tumor
showed less steep (mean SS, 32% per second), and its central area
demonstrated a horizontal line. No significant difference was found
on SS obtained in rim-enhancing portion of the lesions between pre-TACE
and post-TACE (F=3.067, P=0.092) (Table 1).When local
recurrence occurred (2 cases), Time intensity curves became steeper
than the previous ones (Figure 2). There was a good co1rrelation
between SS and DSA in assessment of the vascularity of HCC (K=0.453,
P<0.05) (Table 2).
Table 1 SS
(% per second) and S0 of HCC before and after TACE
|
|
cases |
mean |
minimum |
maximum |
F |
P |
| SS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-TACE |
17 |
69 |
37 |
101 |
3.067 |
0.092 |
|
After-TACE |
15 |
32 |
11 |
52 |
|
|
| S0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-TACE |
17 |
14.04 |
6.76 |
21.32 |
0.309 |
0.583 |
|
After-TACE |
15 |
16.94 |
9.72 |
24.12 |
|
|
Table
2 Relationship of
DSA and SS in assessment of vascularity
| DSA1 |
SS |
| I |
II |
III |
| A |
7 |
2 |
1 |
| B |
2 |
8 |
0 |
| C |
5 |
0 |
3 |
1K=0.453,
P<0.05 vs SS.
Figure
1(PDF) Signal
intensity time curves of HCC in different groups before TACE. Type A
represents hypervascularity, type B shows mild hypervascularity or
hypovascularity of the tumor.
Figure 2(PDF)
HCC before and after TACE. (A-B)
FP-MRI and the signal intensity time curve derived from ROIs before
TACE. (C-D) FP-MRI
and the signal intensity time curve one month after TACE, the signal
intensity time curve became steeper than that pre-TACE, indicating
the remaining arterial blood supply of the lesion after TACE. (E)
DSA before TACE and (F)
DSA after TACE confirmed the FP-MRI finding. (G-H)
one year after TACE, the lesion became larger and the signal
intensity time curve became much steeper than that one month after
TACE, suggesting the recurrence of the tumor. (I-J)
T2 weighted image and enhanced T1 weighted image showing embolus in
inferior vena cava and atrium dextrum.
DISCUSSION
Dynamic MR imaging with prior administration of gadopentetate
dimeglumine has been used in a few studies to evaluate tumor
angiogenesis[15-18]. Gadopentetate dimeglumine is rapidly
distributed in the extra-vascular space during the signal
acquisition, so the relative changes in signal intensity on dynamic
MR imaging are not only correlated with MVD itself but also with
perfusion rate, micro-vessel permeability, and the size of
extra-cellular leakage space as well. Which of these
pathophysiological mechanisms in HCC is the major contribution to
the differences in the contrast media uptake is not clear. Because
of high temporal resolution, FP-MRI can monitor the contrast medium
first passing the microvessels, the relative changes of signal
intensity is significantly associated with MVD, and has been used to
access tumor angiogenesis[14]. T1 weighted FP-MRI or T2*
weighted FP-MRI may be obtained depending upon the different
sequences used[14,19,20].
The time intensity curves
derived from T1 weighted FP-MRI of HCC before TACE showed a rapid
initial increase in signal intensity followed by a plateau
corresponding to hypervascularity, while the time intensity curves
showed a slow initial increase in signal intensity followed by a
plateau representing mild hypervascularity or hypovascularity. Our
study showed that there was a good correlation between SS derived
from T1 weighted FP-MRI and DSA in assessment of the vascularity of
HCC. The different vascularity of HCC was due to its differentiation
and size[4,21,22], which resulted in different uptake and
deposition of lipiodol. HCC with hypervascularity often has
homogeneous deposition of lipiodol, and leads to complete necrosis
of tumor and a better prognosis. When HCC with hypovascularity it
shows incomplete necrosis because of poor deposition of lipiodol and
only other ablation techniques are effective. Otherwise, unnecessary
repeated TACE may be offset by worsening liver function in patients
with cirrhosis, so it is important to identify the angiogenesis of
HCC before TACE.
After TACE, the center of
the lesion demonstrated no vascularity. Although the time intensity
curves drawn in the rim-enhancing portion of the tumor was less
steep than before, no significant difference was found on SS of the
lesions pre-TACE and post-TACE. This result indicated that
vascularity existed even after TACE. The vascularity after TACE was
mainly due to collateral blood supply after TACE[24,25].
Meanwhile, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
of cancerous cells could be enhanced by TACE which might play an
important role in reestablishing of blood supply to tumor after TACE[23].
In this study, the incomplete embolization (because of larger
lesions, mean size, 6 cm. complete embolization is at the expense of
liver function) might contribute to the remains of arterial blood
supply. The arterial blood supply after TACE could offer nutrition
and oxygen to the remaining viable tumor cells, resulting in partial
or incomplete necrosis of the tumor, recurrence would occur sooner
or later. When HCC recurred, the time intensity curves became steep
again, and the SS increased (Figure 2). The angiogenesis after TACE
is a challenge to TACE. Up to now, TNP-470, cyanoacrylate,
Plcg-mitomycin-microsphere and bletilla have been shown to improve
the therapeutic results[26-30]. On the other hand, how to
correctly access the angiogenesis after TACE during follow up
remains to be studied. The study presented here offers a noninvasive
modality to evaluate the angiogenesis after TACE without artifact.
Our result also showed
that there was no significant difference in the baseline signal
intensity on FP-MRI pre-TACE and one month after TACE, indicating
that the retention of lipiodol within the lesion did not influence
the assessment of tumor vascularity after TACE. We encountered two
patients with HCC who were treated with TACE in combination with
percutaneous ethanol injection. Six months after the therapy, the
patients were suspected of recurrence because of their increase of
alpha-fetoprotein, although the lesion had high signal intensity on
FP-MRI before administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine, the time
intensity curves demonstrated the vascularity of the original lesion
and intrahepatic metastatic lesions, which were confirmed by DSA.
The
potential pitfall of the evaluation of HCC vascularity by using FP-MRI
is that the arterioportal shunting (APS) coexists with HCC. APS
breaks the equilibrium of normal dual blood supply to the liver
tissue and affects the blood flow in tumors, the enhancement of
tumors might be changed depending on the degree and location of the
shunting[31-33]. Large HCC might be enhanced poorly, and
the vascularity might be underestimated because of the limited
amount of contrast material passed through the tumor bed. The SS in
three patients with APS associated with HCC (mean, 40% per second)
was lower than the mean value of the patients (mean, 69% per
second). Nevertheless, when the APS coexisted with HCC, the
vascularity of HCC evaluated by using FP-MRI should be with caution,
only when the shunting disappeared after embolization, was the
vascularity of HCC assessed correctly.
The discrepancy between
SS and DSA in assessment of the HCC vascularity derived from T1
weighted FP-MRI was within group III and group I. When SS showed
hypervascularity in five lesions, DSA demonstrated hypovascularity.
SS showed hypovascularity in two lesions, DSA, however, demonstrated
hypervascularity. The differences between these two techniques were
due to the pattern of contrast media administrated. The contrast
media were administered through I.V. before MRI performance and
through hepatic artery during DSA. As a result, the extrahepatic
blood supply could not be revealed by DSA during arterial phase.
This is the limitation of DSA in evaluation of HCC vascularity. On
the other hand, the two sections of axial or coronal MR imaging not
correlating with DSA point by point might contribute to their
difference.
In
summery, T1 weighted FP-MRI has been proved to be practical and
noninvasive in assessment of the vascularity, and provides
semi-quantitative criteria for the selection of patients to be
treated with TACE or other ablation in their initial therapy and
during follow up.
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Edited
by Wang
XL and Xu FM
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