MR-imaging features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following sorafenib monotherapy: incidence, time of occurrence and clinical significance

The aim of this study was to assess MRI signal changes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after initiation of a monotherapy with the new oral multikinase inhibitor sorafenib. Twelve patients (age range, 58–72 years; mean, 65.4 years) with inoperable HCC and no prior systemic treatment received oral sorafenib 800mg daily (2×400mg bid) and underwent MRI at baseline and then every 4 to 6 weeks. Survey time ranged from 33 to 224 days (mean, 120 days). A total of 24 target lesions (19 x liver, 2 x portal vein, 2 x bone, 1 x suprarenal) were evaluated. At baseline, nine HCC patients presented with hypo- or iso…