Liver regeneration following radiofrequency ablation.
BACKGROUND
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the liver leads to reduction of liver parenchymal volume. We sought to evaluate the regenerative response of the liver following RFA.


METHODS
Thirty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were subjected to a single session liver RFA using a cool-tip electrode after midline laparotomy. The regenerative process of the liver was assessed at various time-points (0 h, 48 h, 1 wk, 3 wk, 10 wk) in terms of computed tomography-based liver volume measurements, histological examination, hepatocyte mitotic activity, and serum biochemistry.


RESULTS
According to computed tomography-measurements, intact liver volume was gradually restored to the initial liver volume by the 10th week, while liver ablated volume was confined down to 50% of the initial ablated volume. At histology, inflammation, edema, and hepatocellular necrosis in the intact liver parenchyma, noted at 48 h, started to regress by 1 wk. Mitotic activity, initiated by 48 h, was substantially increased at 1 wk and remained high up to the 10th week. Serum transaminase levels were elevated up to 1 wk.


CONCLUSIONS
Liver RFA triggers a slow but sustained regenerative response of the liver with subsequent delayed restoration of parenchymal volume, while the ablated volume is gradually condensed.
Ypsilantis
Petros
P
Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. pipsil@med.duth.gr
Pitiakoudis
Michail
M
Souftas
Vasilios D
VD
Lambropoulou
Maria
M
Tsalikidis
Christos
C
Foutzitzi
Soultana
S
Tsigalou
Christina
C
Prassopoulos
Panagiotis
P
Papadopoulos
Nikolaos
N
Simopoulos
Constantinos
C
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D007813:Laparotomy; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008940:Mitotic Index; D011817:Rabbits; D011846:Radio Waves; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase