Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the computed tomography (CT) and sonographic findings in patients with hepatic metastases from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) after STI-571 treatment.
Methods: Computed tomography and sonographic findings of 8 lesions in 6 patients with hepatic metastases from GISTs that were treated with STI-571 were retrospectively analyzed. The change in size, attenuation, and echogenicity of the hepatic metastases from GISTs after STI-571 treatment was evaluated.
Results: After treatment with STI-571, the hepatic metastases were decreased in size and the attenuation of the hepatic metastases was homogeneously hypodense on CT. Sonography revealed the hepatic metastases to be centrally cystic with a thin wall (n = 4) or predominantly solid (n = 4) after STI-571 treatment. On color Doppler sonography, no blood flow was identified within the solid portion of the mass.
Conclusion: After treatment with STI-571, although the hepatic metastases from GISTs exhibit a cystic appearance on CT, they may appear as solid masses on sonography.