Purpose To identify hepatocellular carcinoma that responds to repetitive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)based on CT radiomics.Materials and Methods A total of 96 patients diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from February 2018 to May 2024 were randomly divided into a training group(n=67)and internal validation group(n=29)at a ratio of 7∶3.All patients received three or more TACE treatments.Radiomics features were extracted from lipiodol of the target-lesions by semi-automatic segmentation on the axial CT image after TACE within 24 hours.The radiomics model were constructed by five features for differentiating non-response group from response group.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and decision curve were performed to evaluate the performance of the model.Results Child-Pugh classification(OR=2.737,P<0.05),BCLC stage(OR=2.907,P<0.05),multifocal tumors(OR=4.505,P<0.01)and alpha-fetoprotein(OR=1.002,P<0.01)were independent risk factors for predicting tumor response after TACE.The area under the curve of the non-contrast CT based model and the arterial-enhanced CT based model were 0.813 and 0.831 in the experimental group;0.748 and 0.788 in the validation group,respectively.Both of the two models showed good prediction performance.Conclusion The radiomics model based on CT imaging features after first TACE is effectively for differentiating non-response group from response group,lipiodol retention patterns from the target lesion can be the imaging biomarkers for TACE response prediction.

Purpose To identify hepatocellular carcinoma that responds to repetitive transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)based on CT radiomics.Materials and Methods A total of 96 patients diagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from February 2018 to May 2024 were randomly divided into a training group(n=67)and internal validation group(n=29)at a ratio of 7∶3.All patients received three or more TACE treatments.Radiomics features were extracted from lipiodol of the target-lesions by semi-automatic segmentation on the axial CT image after TACE within 24 hours.The radiomics model were constructed by five features for differentiating non-response group from response group.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and decision curve were performed to evaluate the performance of the model.Results Child-Pugh classification(OR=2.737,P<0.05),BCLC stage(OR=2.907,P<0.05),multifocal tumors(OR=4.505,P<0.01)and alpha-fetoprotein(OR=1.002,P<0.01)were independent risk factors for predicting tumor response after TACE.The area under the curve of the non-contrast CT based model and the arterial-enhanced CT based model were 0.813 and 0.831 in the experimental group;0.748 and 0.788 in the validation group,respectively.Both of the two models showed good prediction performance.Conclusion The radiomics model based on CT imaging features after first TACE is effectively for differentiating non-response group from response group,lipiodol retention patterns from the target lesion can be the imaging biomarkers for TACE response prediction.

Objective To discuss the clinical application of intravoxel incoherent motion-diffusion weighted imaging(IVIM-DWI)in evaluating the efficacy and prognosis of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)using different embolization materials for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of a total of 84 patients with inoperable HCC,who received TACE treatment at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University of China and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University of China between June 30,2019 and December 30,2022,were collected.According to the patient's condition,different embolization materials were used during TACE.IVIM-DWI check-up was performed before treatment as well as at one,6,12 months after treatment.Based on the fixed b-value set by IVIM-DWI sequence,the ADC value of the order index model for different embolization materials and the pure diffusion coefficient of double exponential model(D value),the pseudo-diffusion coefficient(D*value)and perfusion fraction(f value)were analyzed.According to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST)and the embolization material used,the patients were divided into the stable group and progression group,and the changes in the ADC value,D value,D*value and f value were compared between the two groups.Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the four clinical parameters(including age,Child-Pugh grade,AFP level and tumor size)and the eight functional quantitative indexes(including preoperative and postoperative ADC value,D value,D* value and f value)so as to determine the IVIM parameters with prognostic predictive value.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)was adopted to analyze the diagnostic value and cut-off value of IVIM parameters with predictive value.Results After treatment,the ADC value of drug-loaded microspheres group(n=36)was significantly higher than that of iodized oil group(n=27),the D*value of drug-loaded microspheres group and iodized oil group was remarkably lower than that of PVA particle group(n=21),and the f value of drug-loaded microspheres group was strikingly lower than that of iodized oil group,the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.01).In the stable group,the efficacy of drug loaded microspheres group was obviously better than that of the iodized oil group and the PVA particle group.In the progression group,the iodized oil group was more likely to develop disease progression than the drug-loaded microspheres group and the PVA particle group.The preoperative f value in the stable group was prominently higher than that in the progression group(P=0.005),and the postoperative ADC value in the stable group was obviously higher than that in the progression group(P=0.029).ROC analysis showed that the median follow-up time in the drug-loaded microspheres group,iodized oil group,and PVA particle group was 30,19,and 26 months respectively,the overall average survival time was 25 months,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the preoperative D value(AUC=0.878),D*value(AUC=0.554)and postoperative D value(AUC=0.791),D*value(AUC=0.552),f value(AUC=0.467)were the independent factors affecting the short-term efficacy of TACE(all P＜0.05).The preoperative and postoperative D value had higher diagnostic efficacy,while a preoperative D value of＜0.505×10-3 mm2/s and a postoperative D value of＜0.785×10-3 mm2/s predicted a poor prognosis.Conclusion The preoperative and postoperative D value is the optimal parameter for predicting the curative efficacy of TACE using different embolization materials for the treatment of HCC.