Cool-tip 10-mm electrode useful for radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Whether a cool-tip 10mm electrode is useful for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been established. Accordingly, the present study goal was to determine this electrode is indicated for RFA of HCC.


METHODS
This study was conducted with 30 HCC patients who were treated with a cool-tip 10-mm electrode over a period of about 3 years. Ten had hypervascular HCC nodules and 20 had hypovascular HCC nodules; mean tumor diameter was 10.5 +/- 1.8mm. Patients underwent follow-up CT scans every 3 to 6 months to detect local progression.


RESULTS
Of the 30 lesions, 4 (13.3%) showed local progression. Enhanced CT imaging of the four cases with local progression revealed that two had hypervascular HCC. The remaining two cases had hypovascular HCC.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study results suggest that, RFA with a cool-tip 10-mm electrode is indicated in cases of hypovascular HCC nodules if the lesion diameter is no more than 10mm. In addition, in order to avoid skin burns, only lesions at a depth of at least 16mm below the liver surface are suitable for this treatment. Because of its lesser invasiveness, the cool-tip 10-mm electrode appears to be more useful than other, more powerful, devices in patients with hepatic carcinoma.
Wakui
Noritaka
N
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Toho University Medical Center, Omori Hospital, 6-11-1, Omorinishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan 143-8541. toho_med_wakui@yahoo.co.jp
Iida
Kazunari
K
Takayama
Ryuji
R
Shiozawa
Kazue
K
Takahashi
Masayoshi
M
Ikehara
Takashi
T
Nagai
Hidenari
H
Watanabe
Manabu
M
Ishii
Koji
K
Sumino
Yasukiyo
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged