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Erschienen in:
01.08.2015
MR–PET evaluation of 1-month post-ablation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary observations
Erschienen in: Abdominal Radiology | Ausgabe 6/2015
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Purpose
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and protocol optimization of whole-body hybrid MR–PET system performed 1-month after post-locoregional thermoablative procedures for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).
Materials and methods
Eight patients (6 men and 2 women; mean age, 56.6 ± 5.5 years) with 9 ablated HCCs constituted our study population. Three readers interpreted the studies to determine the presence or absence of residual malignancy. Two readers independently assessed the fused MR–PET images to compare registration accuracy of two types of T2-weighted (triggered T2 half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo and turbo spin-echo) and T1-weighted [Cartesian and radial 3D gradient echo (GRE)]. Image quality evaluation of both 3D-GRE T1-weighted sequences was evaluated. Kappa statistics were used to measure inter-observer agreement. Non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for qualitative data analysis.
Results
Definite residual tumor was observed in 3/9 ablations; two were PET positive. All residual tumors were isovascular on MRI. Radial 3D-GRE demonstrated significantly superior MR–PET subjective co-registration in comparison with the remaining sequences and showed a non-significant trend toward higher image quality scores than Cartesian GRE.
Conclusion
Whole-body hybrid MR–PET is feasible as a part of 1-month follow-up post-locoregional thermoablative treatment for HCC. Radial 3D-GRE offers improved co-registration with PET data, with overall good image quality.