[Transcatheter arterial embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma using CO2-US]

Enhanced ultrasonography under the injection of microbubbles of carbon dioxide into the hepatic artery (CO2-US) contributed to the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in the selection of indication of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). Judging from the accumulation of the lipiodol after TAE with the combination of lipiodol, TAE was thought to be effective in the tumor which was enhanced by CO2 microbubbles more strongly and the enhancement was prolonged more longer compared to the surrounding parenchyma, even the tumor had no tumor staining on the hepatic angiography. In none of the tumor which had no enhancement, TAE was effective. In most of the tumor with isoenhancement compared with surrounding parenchyma TAE was not effective.