Ultrasonography guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatic cavernous hemangioma.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatic cavernous hemangioma (HCH) is the most common benign tumor of the liver and its management is still controversial. Recent success in situ radiofrequency ablation of hepatic malignancies has led us to consider using this technique in patients with HCH. This study was to assess the efficacy, safety, and complications of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) under ultrasonography guidance in patients with HCH.


METHODS
Twelve patients (four men and eight women, age ranged 33-56 years, mean age was 41.7 years) with 15 hepatic cavernous hemangiomas (2.5 cm to 9.5 cm) were treated using the RF-2000 generator and 10-needle LeVeen electrode percutaneously guided by B-ultrasound. Lesions larger than 3 cm were treated by multiple overlapping ablations that encompass the entire lesion as well as a rim of normal liver tissue (approximately 0.5 cm).


RESULTS
All the patients who received PRFA therapy had no severe pain, bleeding or bile leakage during and after the procedures. Nine to 34 months' follow-up (mean, 21 months) by ultrasound and/or spiral CT scan demonstrated that the ablated lesions in this group were shrunk remarkably, and the shrunken range was 38-79 % (mean, 67 % per 21 months). The contrast enhancement was disappeared within the tumor or at its periphery in all cases on spiral CT scans obtained 3 to 6 months after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that PRFA therapy is a mini-invasive, simple, safe, and effective method for the treatment of selected patients with HCH.
Cui
Yan
Y
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Beijing 306 Hospital, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China. cuiyan@public.fhnet.cn.net
Zhou
Li-Yan
LY
Dong
Man-Ku
MK
Wang
Ping
P
Ji
Min
M
Li
Xiao-Ou
XO
Chen
Chang-Wei
CW
Liu
Zi-Pei
ZP
Xu
Yong-Jie
YJ
Zhang
Hong-Wen
HW
D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography