Hepatocellular carcinoma: a case of extrahepatic seeding after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using an expandable needle electrode.
A 2.5-cm diameter, exophytic seeding of hepatocellular carcinoma was detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography in a 76-year-old man. He had previously undergone a radiofrequency ablation therapy with an expandable, ten-hook needle electrode for the treatment of a 1.5-cm hepatocellular carcinoma in liver segment VI. Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy revealed that this hepatocellular carcinoma was moderately differentiated, as initial tumor was. An additional radiofrequency ablation achieved complete ablation of this neoplastic mass on contrast-enhanced computed tomography scanning. Recurrences were not found for eight months after. To prevent tumor seeding, using thermocoagulation when retracting the needle electrode may be useful.
Shirato
Kazuhito
K
Gastroenterological Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama, 232-0024, Japan. shirato@xd5.so-net.ne.jp
Morimoto
Manabu
M
Tomita
Naohiko
N
Kokawa
Atsushi
A
Sugimori
Kazuya
K
Saito
Toshifumi
T
Tanaka
Katsuaki
K
D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D004566:Electrodes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D019233:Retreatment; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed