Towards quantitative multiparametric evaluation of response to treatment following loco-regional treatment for HCC- pilot study.

The aim of the present study was to explore the feasibility and utility of quantitative volumetric change in ADC, tumor volume and percentage differential enhancement in the various phases in being able to predict response to treatment following loco-regional therapy (LRT).This IRB approved pilot study included 40 consecutive patients following LRT for HCC .Patients with baseline imaging, 1,3 and 6 months follow up dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI were included in our study. Percentage change in arterial, portal venous and hepatic-venous differential enhancement, as well as change in ADC and tumor volume at 1 and 3 months, was calculated for all values. There was global reduction in the percentage of mean volume and differential enhancement is seen in all phases in completely treated study group.In patients with residual tumor, there is paradoxical decrease in ADC and increase in hepatic venous enhancement at 1 month.Our pilot study has shown that volumetric quantitative evaluation of differential enhancement of the treated lesion in various phases combined with ADC and change in tumour volume are feasible. This has potential to act as surrogate markers for evaluating response to treatment