[Percutaneous interstitial thermotherapy of malignant liver tumors].
OBJECTIVE
Description of local ablative techniques such as laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) and radiofrequency ablation in the percutaneous interstitial thermotherapy for malignant liver tumors.


METHODS
MR-guided LITT is currently performed by means of implantable percutaneous catheter systems. CT is used to control the insertion of the catheter. Irrigated administration systems are available both for LITT and for radiofrequency therapy.


RESULTS
At present LITT enables a local tumor control of 97.2% for localized liver metastases without extrahepatic spreading patterns. In a group of 381 patients the average survival times were 45.7 months for patients with liver metastasis, 42.7 months for those with colorectal liver metastases, and 32 months for HCC tumors. The data for radiofrequency ablation confirm the high value for tumor control of hepatocellular carcinomas with poorer results for liver metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous, MR-guided LITT permits good tumor control of liver metastases smaller than 5 cm and less than 5 in number. For HCC, at present percutaneous injection of alcohol, radiofrequency ablation, and LITT are equally effective.
Vogl
T J
TJ
Institut für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. T.Vogl@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Mack
M
M
Straub
R
R
Eichler
K
K
Engelmann
K
K
Roggan
A
A
Zangos
S
S
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome