Sonographic Patterns of Liver Metastasis During Treatment with Systemic Chemotherapy and Selective Intraarterial Chemoembolization/Chemoperfusion

Chemoembolization/-perfusion and systemic chemotherapy are considered sufficient methods in the treatment of liver metastases. To confirm this, we conducted a study on the basis of sonographic examinations. The aim was to describe and to evaluate observable changes in the appearance of hepatic masses during therapy. All patients (n = 35) underwent an ultrasound examination before starting the treatment. Subsequently angiography, indirect splenoportography and angiographic computed tomography were performed as the next steps of the preparation for chemoembolization. The ultrasound examinations during and after therapy were scheduled in very close terms to avoid missing significant changes in the liver metastases. We performed examinations directly after the embolization and followed these up 1, 7, 14, and 30 days there after. Computed tomography was performed several times. In addition, we considered changes in laboratory results, especially regarding tumor markers.