title: Laser ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma--a review.
abstract: A wide range of local thermal ablative therapies have been developed in the treatment of non resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the last decade. Laser ablation (LA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are the two most widely used of these. This article provides an up to date overview of the role of laser ablation in the local treatment of HCC. General principles, technique, image guidance and patient selection are discussed. A review of published data on treatment efficacy, long term outcome and complication rates of laser ablation is included and comparison with RFA made. The role of laser ablation in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: MRI Department, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial Healthcare NHS trust, Praed St, London W2 1NY, United Kingdom. agoughpalmer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Antony Lawrence
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gough-Palmer
authors.forename: Wladyslaw Michal Witold
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gedroyc
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome