MDCT Quantification of hepatic tumor viability for assessment of cancer therapy

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary hepatic malignancy (more than 80%) and the third most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. Contrast-enhanced multi-phase multi-detector CT (MDCT) is a routine imaging modality for patients diagnosed with hepatic malignancy. The change of tumor size measured on single-phase (mostly portal-venous phase) MDCT images is used routinely for assessment of tumor response to treatment. With the advent of targeted cancer therapies (such as antiangiogenic treatment) over the past decade, the clinical outcome in the treatment of advanced HCC has been significantly improved. However, because of the difference in the mechanisms of therapies, measurement of tumors treatedwith targeted therapy does not necessarily accurately represent the change in viable tumor size due to the presence of necrosis. Therefore, the assessment of tumor response using tumor size alone may inadequately evaluate the treatment response for t