title: Imaging-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of adrenal metastases: preliminary results at a single institution with a single device.
abstract: The aim of this study was to show the feasibility, safety, imaging appearance, and short-term efficacy of image-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of adrenal metastases (AM). Seven imaging-guided percutaneous RFA treatments were performed in six patients (two men and four women; mean age, 67.2 years; range, 55-74 years) with six AM who were referred to our institution from 2003 to 2006. One patient was treated twice for recurrence after first treatment. The average diameter of the treated AM was 29 mm (range, 15-40 mm). In all patients, the diagnosis was obtained with CT current protocols in use at our institution and confirmed by pathology with an image-guided biopsy. No major complications occurred. In one patient shortly after initiation of the procedure, severe hypertension was noted; another patient developed post-RFA syndrome. In five of six lesions, there was no residual enhancement of the treated tumor. In one patient CT examination showed areas of residual enhancement of the tumor after treatment. Our preliminary results suggest that imaging-guided percutaneous RFA is effective for local control of AM, without major complications and with a low morbidity rate related to the procedure. Long-term follow-up will need to be performed and appropriate patient selection criteria will need to be determined in future randomized trials.
authors.affiliation: Radiologia Ospedale di Circolo-Fondazione Macchi, Viale Borri 57, 21100, Varese, Italy. gcarraf@tin.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrafiello
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Recaldini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giorgianni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ianniello
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lumia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petullà
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dionigi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fugazzola
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media