Evaluation of C-arm CT scanning in performing interventional treatment of hepatic malignancies

Objective: To assess the potential value of C-arm CT scanning in performing interventional management for hepatic malignancies. Methods: Sixty patients underwent hepatic arterial interventions for hepatic malignancies with the help of C-arm CT scanning. The technical and clinical results were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. The operation time for all interventions was recorded. C-arm CT scanning data were three-dimensionally reconstructed. Compared to conventional DSA findings,the information obtained from C-arm CT scanning was classified as grade 1 (providing no additional information), grade 2 (providing additional information but having no help to interventional procedure), and grade 3(providing additional information useful for interventional procedure). The difference in operation time between using C-arm CT scanning and not using C-arm CT scanning was statistically analyzed with t-test. Results: A total of 230 interventional sessions were performed, of which C-arm CT scanning was employed in 91 (40%). Of the 91 procedures with C-arm CT scanning, grade 2 and grade 3 scores were obtained in 40 (43.9%) and 23 (25.3%) respectively. When C-arm CT scanning was employed the mean procedure time was significantly longer(mean increase of 18.5 minutes) than that with no use of C-arm CT scanning (P < 0.01). Conclusion: C-arm CT scanning is of great value in clearly displaying hepatic malignancies and tumor vessels and in monitoring Lipiodol deposition, which is very helpful for guiding interventional management. Moreover, C-arm CT scanning can provide more additional imaging information than conventional DSA although the operation time is a little bit increased. (authors)