With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.
DOWNLOAD PDFAlpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in the blood can be used to monitor for progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. It can also be used to monitor for recurrence of disease.
On ultrasound, HCC has variable echogenicity. Vascular invasion can be visualized along with the tumor. Cirrhosis of the liver as a secondary finding is often seen.
CT or MRI of the abdomen can be used to visualize tumor margins better. It can also be used for staging e.g. local invasion, portal vein involvement, or metastasis.
Surgical resection is a potentially curative therapy indicated in patients without vascular invasion, metastases, or impaired liver function.
Liver transplantation is another possible treatment. Depending on the availability of donor organs, a waiting period of 6-18 months can be expected. For this reason, patients are treated with ablative methods until they are transplanted to prevent tumor growth or to reduce the size of the tumor. This is also known as âdownsizingâ.
Some image-guided procedures via interventional radiology can be conducted to either down-size or potentially as a primary treatment option for appropriately selected candidates. Procedures like transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radioembolization (TARE) involve the use of catheters to deliver targeted therapy directly to the tumor thus minimizing wide parenchymal effects.
HCC surveillance aims to detect the disease in an early stage and to catch it while it is still resectable. A combination of ultrasound and AFP is recommended.
Since most HCCs are often discovered late and the underlying cirrhosis of the liver limits the therapeutic options, treatment of the disease is still difficult and the prognosis is unfavorable.
Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.
*Average video play time: 2-3 minutes
Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)
Over 2,040,000 students use Picmonicâs picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.
Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether youâre studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, weâre here to help.
Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.