Iodized oil uptake assessment with cone-beam CT in chemoembolization of small hepatocellular carcinomas

AIM:To evaluate the utility of assessing iodized oil uptake with cone-beam computed tomography(CT)in transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)for small he-patocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:Cone-beam CT provided by a biplane flat-panel detector angiography suite was performed on eighteen patients(sixteen men and two women;41-76 years;mean age,58.9 years)directly after TACE for small HCC(26 nodules under 30 mm;mean diam-eter,11.9 mm;range,5-28 mm).The pre-procedural locations of the tumors were evaluated using tripha-sic multi-detector row helical computed tomography(MDCT).The tumor locations on MDCT and the iodized oil uptake by the tumors were analyzed on cone-beam CT and on spot image directly after the procedures.RESULTS:All lesions on preprocedural MDCT were de-tected using iodized oil uptake in the lesions on cone-beam CT(sensitivity 100%,26/26).Spot image depictediodized oil uptake in 22 of the lesions(sensitivity 85%).The degree of iodized oil uptake was overestimated(9%,2/22)or underestimated(14%,3/22)on spot image in f ive nodules compared with that of cone-beam CT.CONCLUSION:Cone-beam CT is a useful and conve-nient tool for assessing the iodized oil uptake of small hepatic tumors(< 3 cm)directly after TACE.