Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound to Evaluate Response to Chemoembolization in Patients With Liver Tumors

This phase II trial evaluates the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for assessing treatment response in patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for liver tumors. TACE is a hepatic artery embolization technique involving the injection of a blocking agent and a chemotherapy agent to treat liver cancers. Currently, contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography are used to assess disease response 1-2 months after TACE treatment, but ultrasound may be a less expensive, earlier alternative. CEUS is an imaging procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images of the body after administering Lumason, an imaging agent used to enhance visualization of blood flow on ultrasounds. CEUS is able to be performed during the TACE procedure, making it possible to evaluate treatment response earlier than standard techniques. CEUS may be an effective method to evaluate treatment response more accurately and much earlier than current standard evaluation methods.