title: Colonic perforation and abscess following radiofrequency ablation treatment of hepatoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiofrequency (RF) has been demonstrated as a relatively safe procedure in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 60-year-old man with liver cirrhosis presented with a large, infiltrating HCC close to the right colon. The patient was treated with internally cooled RF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the 8th day post-ablation, a complication of right colon perforation was diagnosed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RF can induce untoward thermal damage, and may not be indicated in large infiltrating lesions abutting the gastrointestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ospedale Civile, Via Cereda 23, 20059 Vimercate, Milan, Italy. franca.meloni@galactica.it
authors.forename: M Franca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: S Nahum
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Tito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Livraghi
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003106:Colon / Q000293:injuries*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged