title: Laparoscopic radiofrequency thermal ablation of hepatocarcinoma: preliminary experience.
abstract: The objective was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFT), performed during laparoscopy with a cooled-tip electrode needle, in the treatment of neoplastic hepatic focal lesions. Seven patients with hepatocarcinoma (10 hepatic lesions) were treated during laparoscopy with RFT using a 100-watt RF generator and 17-gauge, dual-lumen, cooled-tip electrode needles with a 3-cm exposed tip. The mean exposure time was 12 minutes for each needle insertion. Spiral computed tomography scanning detected complete tumor necrosis in nine lesions; in one lesion, peripheral neoplastic tissue was detected, and percutaneous RFT was performed. Two patients during follow-up developed two new neoplastic lesions, treated with percutaneous ethanol injection. No recurrences of the treated lesions were seen after 6 months of follow up. Intraoperative RFT with a cooled-tip electrode needle is a safe and effective local treatment of hepatic focal lesions during laparoscopic surgery. Possible indications are large hepatocarcinoma (>5 cm), superficial lesions, multiple lesions, or tumor located near vascular or biliary structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goletti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lencioni
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Armillotta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puglisi
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Lippolis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorenzetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Musco
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartolozzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavina
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged