title: Quality improvement guidelines for radiofrequency ablation of liver tumours.
abstract: The development of image-guided percutaneous techniques for local tumour ablation has been one of the major advances in the treatment of liver malignancies. Among these methods, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is currently established as the primary ablative modality at most institutions. RFA is accepted as the best therapeutic choice for patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when liver transplantation or surgical resection are not suitable options. In addition, RFA is considered a viable alternate to surgery (1) for inoperable patients with limited hepatic metastatic disease, especially from colorectal cancer, and (2) for patients deemed ineligible for surgical resection because of extent and location of the disease or concurrent medical conditions. These guidelines were written to be used in quality-improvement programs to assess RFA of HCC and liver metastases. The most important processes of care are (1) patient selection, (2) performing the procedure, and (3) monitoring the patient. The outcome measures or indicators for these processes are indications, success rates, and complication rates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Intervention, Department of Hepatology, Liver Transplants, and Infectious Diseases, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. l.crocetti@med.unipi.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crocetti
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Baere
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lencioni
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D000075202:Contraindications; D003406:Credentialing; D004566:Electrodes; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D011182:Postoperative Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D015996:Survival Rate; D009626:Terminology as Topic