title: Thermal osteonecrosis of the rib after radiofrequency ablation in the thorax.
abstract: A patient underwent radiofrequency (RF) ablation of a pleural-based pulmonary metastasis from treated hepatocellular carcinoma. Ten months after the procedure, computed tomography and positron emission tomography findings raised the concern of tumor recurrence with invasion of the chest wall, for which the patient underwent thoracotomy with resection. Pathologic evaluation demonstrated osteonecrosis of the rib but no malignancy. This case illustrates that thermal osteonecrosis may occur after RF ablation of a pleural-based lesion.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Medicine, Mail Code 357115, 1959 Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas X
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: R Torrance
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed