title: MR-guided radiofrequency ablation using a wide-bore 1.5-T MR system: clinical results of 213 treated liver lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the technical effectiveness, technical success and patient safety of MR-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation of liver malignancies using a wide-bore 1.5-T MR system.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 110 patients, 56 primary liver lesions and 157 liver metastases were treated in 157 sessions using percutaneous RF ablation. Mean lesion diameter was 20 mm (range 4-54 mm). All planning, procedural and post-interventional control MR investigations were carried out using a wide-bore 1.5-T MR system. Technical success was assessed by a contrast-enhanced MR liver examination immediately after the intervention. Technique effectiveness was assessed by dynamic hepatic MR study 1 month post ablation; mean follow-up period was 24.2 months (range 5-44).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success and technique effectiveness were achieved in 210/213 lesions (98.6 %). In 18/210 lesions (8.6 %), local tumour progression occurred 4-28 months after therapy. Seven of these 18 lesions were treated in a second session achieving complete ablation, 6 other lesions were referred to surgery. Overall RF effectiveness rate was 199/213 (93.4 %); overall therapy success (including surgery) was 205/213 (96.2 %). Two major complications (1.3 %) (bleeding and infected biloma) and 14 (8.9 %) minor complications occurred subsequent to 157 interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wide-bore MR-guided RF ablation is a safe and effective treatment option for liver lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Straße 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. hansjoerg.rempp@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Hansjörg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rempp
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Waibel
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Claus D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Claussen
authors.forename: Philippe L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clasen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome