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Figure 13a.   Imaging evaluation of laser ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma. (a) Arterial-phase CT scan obtained before ablation shows a hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (arrow) in the right hepatic lobe. (b) Axial T2-weighted MR image obtained immediately after laser ablation shows the low-signal-intensity tumor with a high-signal-intensity rim (arrows) caused by acute peritumoral hyperemia. (c) Portal-phase CT scan obtained 24 hours after ablation shows the avascular tumor (arrow), indicating 98% ablation.