title: Saline-enhanced radiofrequency thermal ablation of the lung: a feasibility study in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and safety of CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with saline infusion of pulmonary tissue in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight New Zealand White rabbits were divided into two groups: an RFA group (n=10) and a saline-enhanced RFA (SRFA) group (n=18). In the RFA group, percutaneous RFA of the lung was performed under CT guidance and using a 17-gauge internally cooled electrode. In the SRFA group, 1.5 ml of 0.9% saline was infused slowly through a 21-gauge, polyteflon- coated Chiba needle prior to and during RFA. Lesion size and the healing process were studied in rabbits sacrificed at times from the day following treatment to three weeks after, and any complications were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the SRFA group, the mean diameter (12.5+/-1.6 mm) of acute RF lesions was greater than that of RFA lesions (8.5+/-1.4 mm) (p < .05). The complications arising in 12 cases were pneumothorax (n=8), thermal injury to the chest wall (n=2), hemothorax (n=1), and lung abscess (n=1). Although procedure-related complications tended to occur more frequently in the SRFA group (55.6%) than in the RFA group (20%), the difference was not statistically significant (p = .11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saline-enhanced RFA of pulmonary tissue in rabbits produces more extensive coagulation necrosis than conventional RFA procedures, without adding substantial risk of serious complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Korea. jmlshy@naver.com
authors.forename: Jeong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chun Ai
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Youk
authors.forename: Young Kon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Zhewu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Myoung Ja
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Mi Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride