Imaging guided percutaneous irreversible electroporation: ultrasound and immunohistological correlation.
Preliminary results of percutaneous irreversible electroporation (PIE) on swine liver as a novel non-thermal ablation are presented. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using irreversible electroporation in more clinically applicable manner, a percutaneous method, and to investigate a possible role of apoptosis in PIE-induced cell death. We performed PIE on four swine livers under real-time ultrasound guidance. The lesions created by PIE were imaged with ultrasound and were correlated with histology data, including pro-apoptotic marker. A total of 11 lesions were created with a mean size of 16.8 cm(3) in 8.4 +/- 1.8 minutes. Real-time monitoring was performed and a correlation of (+) 2 +/- 3.2 mm in measurement comparison between ultrasound and gross pathologic measurements was demonstrated. Complete hepatic cell death without structural destruction, unaffected by heat-sink effect, and with a sharp demarcation between the ablated zone and the non-ablated zone were observed. Immunohistological analysis confirmed complete apoptotic cell death by PIE on Von Kossa, BAX, and H&E staining. In summary, PIE can provide a novel and unique ablative method with real-time monitoring capability, ultra-short procedure time, non-thermal ablation, and well-controlled and focused apoptotic cell death.
Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, University of California-Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, BL-423, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1721, USA.
Edward W
EW
Lee
Christopher T
CT
Loh
Stephen T
ST
Kee
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography