Echographic evaluation of abdominal tumor regression during antineoplastic treatment

Abstract

Twenty patients with malignant abdominal tumors were evaluated by compound contact B-mode ultrasonic scanning. The studies were carried out during and after antineoplastic treatment with chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Gain and sensitivity settings were kept constant before and after treatment. The changes in echographic findings were correlated with clinical, laboratory and/or autopsy findings. Ultrasound proved t o be a very useful and convenient way t o evaluate the antitumor effect of various chemotherapeutic agents. Typical echograms are shown to illustrate the method of ultrasonic evaluation.

An Approach of Ultrasound Diagnostic Techniques of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue

“…Many authors [4,6] point out another great advantage of this method, the follow-up of regressive pathological changes during and after applied therapy.…”

Echographic patterns of malignant lymphoma

“…In other instances, multiple cystic patterns may appear within the tumor. Echographic visualization can also be applied to the clinical evaluation of regression of other malignant abdominal tumors during antineoplastic treatment (2). Tumors as small as 2 t o 3 cm can be detected by this method.…”

Gray scale compound scan echography of the normal upper abdomen

“…Hitherto, most ultrasonic echograms of the upper abdomen have been obtained on storage tube oscilloscopes which display the position but not the magnitude of echoes. The surfaces of the liver, great vessels, kidneys, and spleen all return strong echoes when they are suitably inclined to the ultrasonic beam and when written, give information as t o the shape, size, and position of organs, large tumors, cysts, and their relationships one to the other (1)(2)(3)(4). Such echograms have allowed the computation of the volume of the liver and spleen (5,6) and have assisted in guiding percutaneous biopsy needles (7,8).…”