SBRT for HCC: Overview of technique and treatment response assessment
Recommended Citation
Shampain KL, Hackett CE, Towfighi S, Aslam A, Masch WR, Harris AC, Chang SD, Khanna K, Mendiratta V, Gabr AM, Owen D, and Mendiratta-Lala M. SBRT for HCC: Overview of technique and treatment response assessment. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2021.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-7-2021
Publication Title
Abdom Radiol (NY)
Abstract
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging locoregional treatment (LRT) modality used in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The decision to treat HCC with LRT is evaluated in a multidisciplinary setting, and the specific LRT chosen depends on the treatment intent, such as bridge-to-transplant, down-staging to transplant, definitive/curative treatment, and/or palliation, as well as underlying patient clinical factors. Accurate assessment of treatment response is necessary in order to guide clinical management in these patients. Patients who undergo LRT need continuous imaging evaluation to assess treatment response and to evaluate for recurrence. Thus, an accurate understanding of expected post-SBRT imaging findings is critical to avoid misinterpreting normal post-treatment changes as local progression or viable tumor. SBRT-treated HCC demonstrates unique imaging findings that differ from HCC treated with other forms of LRT. In particular, SBRT-treated HCC can demonstrate persistent APHE and washout on short-term follow-up imaging. This brief review summarizes current evidence for the use of SBRT for HCC, including patient population, SBRT technique and procedure, tumor response assessment on contrast-enhanced cross-sectional imaging with expected findings, and pitfalls in treatment response evaluation.
PubMed ID
33963419
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
