Magnetic resonance imaging for treatment response evaluation and prognostication of hepatocellular carcinoma after thermal ablation

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the vast majority of primary liver cancer and constitutes a major global health challenge. Tumor ablation with either radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA) is recommended as a curative-intent treatment for early-stage HCC. Given the widespread use of thermal ablation in routine clinical practice, accurate evaluation of treatment response and patient outcomes has become crucial in optimizing individualized management strategies. Noninvasive imaging occupies the central role in the routine management of patients with HCC. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could provide full wealth of information with respect to tumor morphology, hemodynamics, function and metabolism. With accumulation of liver MR imaging data, radiomics analysis has been increasingly applied to capture tumor heterogeneity and provide prognostication by extracting high-throughput quantitative imaging features from digital medical images. Emerging evidence suggests the potential role of several qualitative, quantitative and radiomic MRI features in prediction of treatment response and patient prognosis after ablation of HCC. Understanding the advancements of MRI in the evaluation of ablated HCCs may facilitate optimal patient care and improved outcomes. This review provides an overview of the emerging role of MRI in treatment response evaluation and prognostication of HCC patients undergoing ablation.Clinical relevance statementMRI-based param...
Source: Insights into Imaging - Category: Radiology Source Type: research