Validity of MR imaging for monitoring effects of percutaneous ethanol injection for HCC

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 44 hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who had undergone percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) were analyzed during and after the treatment. Using a long TE/TR spin-echo technique, the initial high intensity of the tumor decreased during treatment in all patients. Decrease in tumor intensity corresponded well with decrease of serum alpha-fetoprotein level and histopathological changes of the necrosis. During the long-term follow-up of three patients, the reappearance of a highly intense area was readily detected by MR imaging, and hence the recurrence of the tumor, as determined clinically or histopathologically, was confirmed. The long TE/TR spin-echo technique proves most helpful in monitoring the effectiveness of PEIT for HCC, as well as for its recurrence.