Radiofrequency ablation in a previously irradiated liver.
A patient with renal cell carcinoma underwent external-beam radiation therapy (XRT) to treat a painful chest-wall metastasis. One month later, she underwent radiofrequency (RF) ablation of two metastatic deposits within the liver; one of the target lesions was in the recent irradiation zone and the other was outside of the radiation field. RF ablation within the irradiated liver produced a slightly larger ablation zone with prominent needle tract scarring, and required less energy input than treatment in the unirradiated liver. RF ablation and XRT may interact, possibly producing a synergistic effect. Further study of the potentially adjunctive relationship between these two modalities is warranted.
Friedman
Marc A
MA
Diagnostic Radiology Department, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1182, USA.
Altemus
Rosemary
R
Wood
Bradford J
BJ
D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed