P1C-3 Temporal Formation of the Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Lesions: Preliminary in Vitro Elastographic Results

Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) is used as a minor invasive therapy method in clinic. In the past two decades, it has been proven as an effective treatment method for small hepatocellular carcinomas and benign thyroid nodules. However, a real time monitoring imaging modality for PEI therapy is nonexistent. In this work, ethanol-induced lesions were created in fresh porcine livers by different-dose (1 mL, 2 mL, and 3 mL) injection and elastography was used to evaluate the temporal formation of these lesions. For each lesion, the elastograms from an identical scan plane were obtained every 30 seconds after ethanol injection, and the areas of the lesion in the elastogram sequences were calculated. Consequently, the temporal formation of the lesion was plotted as the elastographic area versus time. The results showed that ethanol-induced lesion could be easily found in the elastography as a low strain area. Its area grew quickly soon after the injection and reached a plateau in less than 4 minutes. The lesions created with less ethanol dose were smaller in size and they were formed in longer time. The result suggests that elastography is capable of monitoring the temporal formation of the ethanol-induce lesion, and is a potential monitoring imaging modality for PEI therapy.