Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Small (1–2 cm) Hepatocellular Carcinomas Inconspicuous on B-Mode Ultrasonographic Imaging: Usefulness of Combined Fusion Imaging with MRI and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography

Table 2

Conspicuity score before and after CEUS in the 21 patients with fusion imaging-inconspicuous HCCs.

Before CEUS	After CEUS
3 (n = 13)	1 (n = 8)
	2 (n = 4)
	3 (n = 1)
4 (n = 8)	1 (n = 4)
	2 (n = 3)
	4 (n = 1)

CEUS = contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; HCC = hepatocellular carcinoma.
Residual tumor was noted after the first RFA session in one patient in whom the tumor was located in the subcapsular area in segment 5, just below the right rib. Technique efficacy was achieved after the second RFA session.
In one patient, although the lesion was identified after CEUS was added, both the expected electrode path and sonographic window were poor. Therefore, chemoembolization was performed instead of percutaneous RFA.
In this patient, the target lesion was not identified on the arterial or post-vascular phase. Therefore, instead of treatment, this patient was followed up with CT/MRI. Eventually, the lesion disappeared on 8-month follow-up MRI, indicating that it was a pseudolesion.