Liver Cancer 
Journey

Ben’s abdominal ultrasound with an ultrasound-derived fat fraction (UDFF) exam shows moderate hepatic steatosis of 14% liver fat consistent with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), while Auto pSWE elastography yielded a value of moderate fibrosis of 7kPa – the combination of both suggests a metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) diagnosis.⁴

Ben is lucky to be included in an HCC ultrasound surveillance program. A suspicious mass of ~3cm was identified during the abdominal ultrasound. Utilizing contrast-enhanced ultrasound, the mass was characterized as an HCC.⁴

Using the ACUSON Sequoia, Ben’s liver anatomy, vascularity, fat content and liver stiffness are accurately checked in a single examination.⁴

Thanks to attentive screening, Ben's HCC was detected early and opens many options for an optimal therapy.

Ben is sent for an MRI exam to stage the fibrosis and characterize the lesion. A MAGNETOM Flow. Platform is used, which features fully integrated solutions for evaluating liver fat and liver stiffness, combined with advanced acceleration techniques for fast scanning.⁵

A push-button dynamic contrast-enhanced exam can be performed in free breathing using the Compressed Sensing GRASP-VIBE, which delivers images with high spatial resolution and robustness towards motion. This pioneering approach expands the patient population eligible for abdominal MRI.⁶

In addition, an MR elastography (MRE) exam, the gold standard for fibrosis assessment, has been also performed.⁷

Side note: The CT NAEOTOM Alpha.Pro⁸ also can deliver imaging to support clinicians in their diagnostic task. It delivers high image quality, empowering healthcare professionals with the ability to detect, characterize, and monitor tumors with precision.⁹

In Ben’s case, the MRI results were crucial to confirm the diagnosis of moderate steatosis, intermediate fibrosis, and early-stage HCC.

The critical question in Clinical Tumor Assessment is: How can you effectively assemble and present your patient’s intricate data in a limited time frame? The answer is Syngo Carbon.¹⁰

Why? It empowers you to build seamless connections between departments. Its beauty lies in the ability to unite all clinical disciplines – from radiologists and oncologists, to surgeons, pathologists and nuclear medicine experts, and even beyond.

Thus, this imaging and reporting solution allows you to quickly compile and showcase Ben’s data across modalities in one integrated and user-friendly workspace. In fact, Syngo Carbon equips you with a comprehensive 360° perspective that substantially enhances your decision-making in multidisciplinary conferences. It’s your connecting element that gives rise to knowledge to drive better patient outcomes. With Syngo Carbon, a variety of therapeutic resolutions are meticulously explored.¹⁰

It's within this forum of shared expertise that the decision is shaped for Ben’s optimal treatment.

Ben is not eligible for a liver transplant. According to current guidelines, the multidisciplinary conference decides on ablation as 1st-line treatment. During ablation, it’s vital to cover the tumor with a sufficient margin, i.e., to achieve an "A0" ablation to reduce the risk of tumor recurrence. To support this, correct placement of the needles and reproducible microwave ablation are required.

myAblation Guide⁹ brings unprecedented consistency to your microwave liver ablation workflow. With sophisticated planning tools, easy postprocedural assessment, and a coherent user experience across imaging and ablation systems, we’ve got you covered every step of the way.

In Ben’s case, the ablation is done under CT-guidance. In case an emergency patient blocks the CT, the ablation can alternatively be performed under ultrasound guidance or in an angiography suite.

Side note: Fortunately for Ben, the HCC was discovered at an early stage. Otherwise, embolization would have been a treatment of choice. For this procedure, the syngo Embolization Guidance helps define the optimal approach to selective embolization. The precise calibration of Varian Embozene and Oncozene microspheres facilitates a distal penetration of the vessels.

Fortunately for Ben, the HCC has been discovered in early stage.

To detect potential recurrences early, we accompany patients like Ben with a truly personalized cancer care follow-up process. Three challenges have to be met: timely communication, medical data management, and thorough patient engagement.

The solution to improving survivorship worldwide is to empower patients like Ben on their cancer care journey – with two digital tools: eHealth Virtual Visit is a telehealth application that offers seamless virtual consultation to transform care delivery and reduce the need for in-person visits.¹¹

The Noona mobile app enables patients to actively participate during their therapy & follow up. Through treatment insights, personalized education, and real-time recording of ePROs, the app fosters a collaborative approach to individualizing and optimizing post treatment care. 

Thank you for accompanying Ben on his Liver Health Journey. We are grateful that we were able to contribute to his fast diagnosis and successful treatment with our solutions.

How can we support you in overcoming the most pressing challenges in cancer treatment?

After you have learned on how we improved Ben’s Liver Cancer Pathway, we would like to show you how we can empower outcome-driven cancer care in your institution.

And this is through Value Partnerships | Oncology, which are long-term, performance-oriented, collaborative engagements that empower you to improve cancer outcomes. 

We can support care givers beyond providing equipment. For example, conceptualizing and implementing screening programs. As we did for the ‘Portuguese League Against Cancer’, providing more then 50 thousand additional mammography scans per year.

Or support implementing new clinical treatments and services or planning new oncology departments.