title: Radiomorphology of the Habib sealer-induced resection plane during long-time followup: a longitudinal single center experience after 64 radiofrequency-assisted liver resections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency (RF-) assisted liver resection devices like the Habib sealer induce a necrotic resection plane from which a small margin of necrotic liver tissue remains in situ. The aim of the present paper was to report our long-time experience with the new resection method and the morphological characteristics of the remaining necrotic resection plane.
  
  
  METHODS
  64 RF-assisted liver resections were performed using the Habib sealer. Followup was assessed at defined time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postoperative mortality was 3,6% and morbidity was 18%. The followup revealed that the necrotic zone was detectable in all analyzed CT and MRI images as a hypodense structure without any contrast enhancement at all time points, irrespectively of the time interval between resection and examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver resection utilizing radiofrequency-induced resection plane coagulation is a safe alternative to the established resection techniques. The residual zone of coagulation necrosis remains basically unchanged during a followup of three years. This has to be kept in mind when evaluating the follow up imaging of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany. robert.kleinert@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleinert
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wahba
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bangard
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prenzel
authors.forename: Arnulf H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hölscher
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stippel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome