Complications of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepato-cellular carcinoma: imaging spectrum and management.
Percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation is feasible for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, and experience at the authors' institution during 5 years indicates that percutaneous RF ablation can be performed safely in most cases. However, early or late complications related to mechanical or thermal damage may be observed at follow-up examination. Complications may be classified in three groups: vascular (eg, portal vein thrombosis, hepatic vein thrombosis with partial hepatic congestion, hepatic infarction, and subcapsular hematoma), biliary (eg, bile duct stenosis and biloma, abscess, and hemobilia), and extrahepatic (eg, injury to the gastrointestinal tract, injury to the gallbladder, pneumothorax and hemothorax, and tumor seeding). Most complications can be managed with conservative treatment, percutaneous or endoscopic drainage, or surgical repair. Because an early and accurate diagnosis is necessary for proper management, radiologists should be familiar with the imaging features of each type of complication.
Akahane
Masaaki
M
Departments of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. akahane-tky@umin.ac.jp
Koga
Hisao
H
Kato
Nobuyuki
N
Yamada
Haruyasu
H
Uozumi
Kazuhito
K
Tateishi
Ryosuke
R
Teratani
Takuma
T
Shiina
Shuichiro
S
Ohtomo
Kuni
K
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed