title: Radiofrequency thermal ablation of hepatic tumors: pitfalls and challenges.
abstract: Image-guided radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation has been accepted as a promising interventional technique to control unresectable hepatic tumors. One important key to maximize the efficacy of RF ablation is to adhere to the therapeutic guidelines and to avoid preventable pitfalls. There are also several challenges obstructing successful ablation: poor approach path; small sonic window during multiple overlapping ablations; incomplete ablation due to the heat sink effect; subcapsular mass (too exophytic or the mass is adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract); focal residual tumors; too isoechoic or small masses; and mistargeting to adjacent another lesion. Knowledge of these challenges and pitfalls in RF ablation is helpful for a successful ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri city, Gyunggi-do, Korea.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rhim
authors.forename: Y-S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed