title: Multipolar radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors: initial experience.
abstract: Institutional review board approval and patient informed consent were obtained. Use of a multipolar radiofrequency (RF) ablation device in patients with hepatic malignancy was prospectively evaluated with regard to feasibility, achieved ablation zone size and shape, technical effectiveness, and complications. Nineteen malignant liver tumors were treated with the multipolar resistance-controlled RF ablation system, with which up to three internally cooled bipolar coagulation electrodes can be operated simultaneously. Postinterventional imaging was performed with dynamic contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR imaging-based three-dimensional planimetry. Complete tumor destruction was achieved in 18 of 19 tumors. Mean ablation zone volume was 52 mL +/- 45 (standard deviation). Thirteen patients were treated with a percutaneous approach; six, with an intraoperative approach. Maximum ablation size was 91 x 62 x 79 mm with the percutaneous and 73 x 98 x 74 mm with the intraoperative approach. Of the 18 completely evaluable ablation zones, 13 were concentric, two were moderately eccentric, two were eccentric, and one was wedge-shaped. The multipolar RF ablation device achieves large ablation zones and has high technical effectiveness in treating hepatic tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin-Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. bernd.frericks@charite.de
authors.forename: Bernd B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Frericks
authors.forename: Jörg P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roggan
authors.forename: Karl-Jürgen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA