World J Hepatol. Feb 27, 2015; 7(2): 235-244 Published online Feb 27, 2015. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i2.235
Image-guided therapies in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: A multidisciplinary perspective
Jonathon Willatt, Kevin K Hannawa, Julie A Ruma, Timothy L Frankel, Dawn Owen, Pranab M Barman
Jonathon Willatt, Kevin K Hannawa, Julie A Ruma, Timothy L Frankel, Dawn Owen, Pranab M Barman, University of Michigan and Veterans Administration Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States
Author contributions: Each author had made a substantial contribution to the text, had critically revised the content, and has approved the final version; Willatt J contributed to the manuscript writer and coordinator; Hannawa KK contributed to the manuscript review and reference coordinator; Ruma JA contributed to the follow up imaging after interventional treatments; Frankel TL contributed to the surgically assisted RFA; Owen D contributed to the SBRT; Barman P contributed to the multidisciplinary overview and editorial assistant.
Correspondence to: Jonathon Willatt, MBChB, University of Michigan and Veterans Administration Hospital, 2215 Fuller Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States. jwillatt@med.umich.edu
Telephone: +1-734-8455650 Fax: +1-734-8453228
Received: July 29, 2014 Peer-review started: July 29, 2014 First decision: October 14, 2014 Revised: October 26, 2014 Accepted: November 17, 2014 Article in press: November 19, 2014 Published online: February 27, 2015 Processing time: 199 Days and 4.7 Hours
Abstract
A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has led to improvements in screening, detection, and treatments. Interventional techniques include thermal ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and radioembolization whilst stereotactic body radiation therapy also uses imaging to target the radiation. Both survival rates and cure rates have improved markedly since the introduction of these techniques. This review article describes the image guided techniques used for the treatment of HCC.
Core tip: This review article provides an updated description of the image guided therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma including stereotactic radiation, set in the context of a multidisciplinary approach.
