ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor in clinical practice, and image-guided thermal ablation is a radical treatment method for early-stage HCC and a method for palliative tumor reduction and combination with systematic therapy for advanced HCC. With the advantages of real-time imaging, accurate guiding, easy operation, portability, low cost, no radiation damage, and high efficiency, ultrasound plays an important role in preoperative planning, intraoperative guiding, postoperative evaluation, and long-term follow-up in thermal ablation for HCC. With the advances in ultrasound and imaging fusion technology and the development of functional imaging technology represented by photoacoustic imaging, ultrasound-guided thermal ablation is at the forefront of precision treatment of HCC, achieving long-lasting development and developing into a more minimally invasive, accurate, safe, and effective diagnostic and therapeutic mode.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the application value of multimodal image fusion technology in the diagnosis and treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).Methods The retrospective descriptive study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 11 patients with ICC who were admitted to Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University between January and September 2018 were collected.There were 5 males and 6 females,aged (55 ± 12)years,with a range from 30 to 74 years.The data of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA) of the upper abdomen were respectively collected,and three-dimensional(3D) model of liver was constructed based on CT-MRI fusion images.The preoperative evaluation and surgical planning were carried out based on the different modal imaging examination technologies.The indocyanine green (ICG) molecular fluorescence imaging system and augmented reality navigation system were used to guide hepatectomy.Observation indicators:(1) preoperative evaluation;(2) intraoperative situations;(3) comparison between surgical planning based on the different model imaging technologies and actual surgical method;(4) follow-up.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect postoperative complications up to November 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean ± SD,measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range).Count data were described as absolute number or percentage and comparisons were analyzed using the paired chi-square test.Results (1) Preoperative evaluation:the proportions of grade 3 and above branch vessels of the portal vein and hepatic vein system and tumor margin by enhanced CT examination and enhanced MRI examination were respectively 11/11,4/11 and 5/11,11/11,with statistically significant differences in above indicators (x2 =4.16,5.14,P＜0.05).The enhanced CT showed 11 liver cancer lesions and enhanced MRI showed 13 lesions (including 2 lesions not demonstrated by enhanced CT,with a maximum diameter ≤ 10 mm).The 3D model of liver based on CT-MRI fusion image:location,number,infiltrating range (tumor boundary),intrahepatic vascular distribution,variation and its spatial relationship with lesions could be stereoscopically,intuitively and comprehensively displayed.(2) Intraoperative situations:of 11 patients,11 lesions were explored with naked eyes;13 lesions were detected by ICG molecular fluorescence imaging system,including 2 lesions showing low uptake lesions in liver and gallbladder specific period by preoperative MRI examinations and intrahepatic metastasis cancer by pathologic examination.Of 11 patients,6 had naked-eye ischemia boundaries around related vessels of hepatic portal ligation;10 with anatomical hepatectomy had hepatic segments or hemihepatic boundary by ICG molecular fluorescence imaging system,including 2 using positive staining and 8 using anti-staining.Among 11 patients,3 (1 combined with local resection of hepatic segment Ⅷ metastases),2,2,1,1,1 and 1 underwent respectively left hepatectomy,left lateral lobectomy of liver,right hepatectomy,extended right hepatectomy,right lobectomy of liver,resection of partial hepatic segment Ⅷ and mesohepatectomy.Seven of 11 patients received regional lymph node dissection and 4 received simple lymph node biopsy.Of 11 patients,1 diagnosed as with bile leakage of liver section underwent suture and ligation treatment with 4-0 Prolene;10 didn't occurred bile leakage.The surgical margin of 11 patients was negative.The operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss and duration of hospital stay were (240± 118)minutes,(275±249)mL and (13 ± 8) days,respectively.There was no blood transfusion in the perioperative period.(3) Comparison between surgical planning based on the different model imaging technologies and actual surgical method:surgical planning of 3D model based on CT,MRI and CT-MRI fusion image in 6,9 and 11 patients was respectively consistent with actual surgical method.(4) Follow-up:11 patients were followed up for 2-10 months,with a median time of 6 months.Three patients had postoperative complications,2 of which were found in Clavien-Dindo Ⅰ and Ⅱ,including 1 with pleural effusion + peritoneal effusion and 1 with pleural effusion,they were improved after conservative treatment;1 with complication of Clavien-Dindo Ⅲ (postoperative intra-abdominal bleeding) was improved by selective arterial embolization using percutaneous femoral artery puncture.There was no postoperative bile leakage,hepatic failure and death.Conclusion Multimodal image fusion technique is helpful to optimize the preoperative surgical planning,which can assist the recognition of important vessels and real-time navigation of hepatectomy during operation,and improve the safety of operation.