Visualizing the hepatic vascular architecture using superb microvascular imaging in patients with hepatitis C virus: A novel technique

AIM: To identify the hepatic vascular architecture of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) using superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and investigate the use of SMI in the evaluation of liver fibrosis.METHODS: SMI was performed in 100 HCV patients. SMI images were classified into five types according to the vascular pattern, and these patterns were compared with the fibrosis stage. Moreover, the images were analyzed to examine vascularity by integrating the number of SMI signals in the region of interest ROI [number of vascular trees (VT)]. The number of VT, fibrosis stage, serum parameters of liver function, and CD34 expression were investigated.RESULTS: There was a significant difference between SMI distribution pattern and fibrosis stage (P < 0.001). The mean VT values in each of the fibrosis stages were as follows: 26.69 ± 7.08 in F0, 27.72 ± 9.32 in F1, 36.74 ± 9.23 in F2, 37.36 ± 5.32 in F3, and 58.14 ± 14.08 in F4. The VT showed excellent diagnostic ability for F4 [area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC): 0.911]. The VT was significantly correlated with the CD34 labeling index (r = 0.617, P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: SMI permitted the detailed delineation of the vascular architecture in chronic liver disease. SMI appears to be a reliable tool for noninvasively detecting significant fibrosis or cirrhosis in HCV patients.

Change in arterial tumor perfusion is an early biomarker of lenvatinib efficacy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Lenvatinib is one of the first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors used for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). In the present study, we evaluated the potential of early changes in the time-intensity curve(TIC) of arterial phase on contrastenhanced ultrasound(CEUS) as early imaging biomarkers of lenvatinib efficacy.AIM To evaluate the potential of the early changes in the TIC of CEUS as early imaging biomarkers of lenvatinib efficacy in patients with unresectable HCC.METHODS We analyzed 20 consecutive patients with unresectable HCC treated with lenvatinib from March to November 2018. Tumor response at 8 wk was assessed by computed tomography using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(m RECIST). CEUS was performed at baseline before treatment(Day 0) and on day 7(Day 7), and the images were analyzed in the arterial phase for 20 seconds after the contrast agent arrived at the target tumor. Three perfusion parameters were extracted from the TICs: the slope of wash-in(Slope),time to peak(TTP) intensity, and the total area under the curve(AUC) during wash-in. The rate of change in the TIC parameters between Day 0 and Day 7 was compared between treatment responders and non-responders based on m RECIST.RESULTS The rate of change for all TIC parameters showed significant differences between the responders(n = 9) and non-responders(n = 11)(Slope, P = 0.025; TTP, P =0.004; and AUC, P = 0.0003). The area under the receiver operating curve values for slope, TTP, and AUC for the prediction of responders were 0.805, 0.869, and0.939, respectively.CONCLUSION CEUS may be useful for the early prediction of tumor response to lenvatinib therapy in patients with unresectable HCC.