%0 Journal Article
%T Comparison of the Number of Image Acquisitions and Procedural Time Required for Transarterial Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with and without Tumor-Feeder Detection Software
%A Jin Iwazawa
%A Shoichi Ohue
%A Naoko Hashimoto
%A Takashi Mitani
%J Radiology Research and Practice
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/580839
%X Purpose. To compare the number of image acquisitions and procedural time required for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with and without tumor-feeder detection software in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 50 cases involving software-assisted TACE (September 2011¨CFebruary 2013) and 84 cases involving TACE without software assistance (January 2010¨CAugust 2011). We compared the number of image acquisitions, the overall procedural time, and the therapeutic efficacy in both groups. Results. Angiography acquisition per session reduced from 6.6 times to 4.6 times with software assistance ( ). Total image acquisition significantly decreased from 10.4 times to 8.7 times with software usage ( ). The mean procedural time required for a single session with software-assisted TACE (103£żmin) was significantly lower than that for a session without software (116£żmin, ). For TACE with and without software usage, the complete (68% versus 63%, resp.) and objective (78% versus 80%, resp.) response rates did not differ significantly. Conclusion. In comparison with software-unassisted TACE, automated feeder-vessel detection software-assisted TACE for HCC involved fewer image acquisitions and could be completed faster while maintaining a comparable treatment response. 1. Introduction Two randomized trials have shown that transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) confers significant survival benefits [1, 2]. It has subsequently been accepted as a standard locoregional therapy for managing unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Detection of tumor feeders using intraprocedural imaging is indispensable for the technical success of this procedure. However, sequential angiographic acquisitions are usually necessary to accurately determine the feeder vessels in manual assessments using two-dimensional (2D) angiography. Additional angiographic runs at different angles are often required in patients with highly complex hepatic arterial vasculature. Such efforts are time-consuming and increase radiation exposure and contrast material use. A software program specifically designed to assist in planning selective liver tumor embolization (FlightPlan for Liver, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI, USA) was recently developed to detect and visualize potential tumor feeders from three-dimensional (3D) C-arm computed tomography (CT) data [3]. When catheter entry and a target tumor are chosen on the multiplanar reformatted (MPR) C-arm CT images, the software automatically predicts tumor feeders by showing a color-coded image on the
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/rrp/2013/580839/