[Infusion MR arteriography during hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy: evaluation of clinical usefulness].

PURPOSE

We developed a new method of infusion MR arteriography (IMRA) via an implantable port system using an infusion pump for the evaluation of drug distribution during hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy. The purposes of this study were to optimize the method and evaluate its clinical usefulness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used 3D-T1 TFE as the most suitable sequence for IMRA according to the results of a phantom model experiment. We examined 33 cases of liver cancer that had been treated by arterial infusion chemotherapy via the port system. The following investigations were performed: degree of tumor enhancement, intra- and extrahepatic perfusion abnormality, and related toxicity. The evaluation of images was performed separately by two radiologists.

RESULTS

IMRA provided good images of contrast enhancement, to reveal the perfusion patterns. The treatment response rate in the tumor group with well enhancement was higher than that of the group with poor enhancement (p < 0.0001). Extrahepatic perfusion was well visualized and was correlated with toxicity (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

IMRA is a useful method to evaluate drug perfusion for the optimization of arterial infusion chemotherapy.