MRI features of treated hepatocellular carcinoma following locoregional therapy: a pictorial review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide and within the United States. Liver transplant or partial liver resection is the definitive treatment of choice for HCC; however, the majority of cases are detected in advanced stages due to its early-stage asymptomatic nature, often precluding surgical treatment. Locoregional therapy plays an essential role in HCC management, including curative intent, as a bridge to transplant, or in some cases palliative therapy. Radiologists play a critical role in assessing tumor response following treatment to guide further management that may potentially impact transplantation eligibility; therefore, it is important for radiologists to have an understanding of different locoregional therapies and the variations of imaging response to different therapies. In this review article, we outline the imaging response to ablative therapy (AT), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We will also briefly discuss the basic concepts of these locoregional therapies. This review focuses on the imaging features following locoregional treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma following AT, TACE, SIRT, and SBRT. Graphical abstract