Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced scanning parameters in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy. Methods A total of 76 patients with HCC were treated with TACE in our hospital from June 2014 through June 2019, and all received MR before and after TACE for apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) , the volume transfer constant (K_trans) and the tissue space-plasma rate constant (K_ep). Results Before the TACE treatment in the 76 patients with HCC, the ADC of tumor foci was (1.1±0.1)×10^-3mm²/s, K^t_rans was (1.4±0.3)min^-1, K_ep was (1.9±1.1)min^-1, significantly different as compared to after TACE, while there was no significant difference between the tumor sizes 【(7.7±3.2)cm vs.(6.5±2.8) cm】 before and after TACE; 59 patients (77.6%) got response to TACE out of the 76 patients with HCC, and in the 59 responders, the ADC was (1.4±0.4)×10^-3mm²/s, much greater than【(1.1±0.3)×10^-3mm²/s, P<0.05】 in 17 non-responders, and the K_trans was (0.8±0.2)min^-1, significantly lower than 【(1.2±0.4)min^-1, P<0.05】 in non-responders, while there were no significant differences with respect to the tumor sizes 【(6.6±3.1)cm vs.(7.4±3.8)cm】, the ADC before TACE 【(1.1±0.2)×10^-3mm²/s vs. (1.0±0.2)×10^-3mm²/s】 and the K_ep 【(1.4±0.3)min^-1 vs. (1.4±0.4)min^-1】 between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions The ADC and K_Trans of functional magnetic resonance imaging of tumor foci in patients with HCC after TACE might change specifically, which could help clinicians evaluate the therapeutic efficacy.

Key words: Hepatoma, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Functional magnetic resonance imaging, Diffusion-weighted imaging, Apparent diffusion coefficient, Therapy