title: [Ablation of liver metastases by radiofrequency].
abstract: Radiofrequency is a thermal ablative technique that is most often used percuteanously under image guidance. Thermal damage is obtained through frictional heating of a high frequency current. The maximal volume of destruction obtained in one radiofrequency delivery is around 4 cm and consequently, best indication for treatment are tumours below 3 cm. When compared, radiofrequency and surgical removal for tumours below 25 mm in diameter demonstrated a rate of incomplete resection/ablation of 6% and 7.3% respectively. Median survival after the first radiofrequency of a liver metastasis of CRC is reported to be 24 to 52 months with a 5 years overall survival of 18 to 44%. The median overall survival increases from 22 to 48 months depending on the use of radiofrequency ablation as rescue treatment after failure of others, or as a first line treatment. For patients with a single tumour, less than 4 cm, the survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years are respectively 97%, 84% and 40%, with a median survival of 50 months. Follow-up imaging requires to use contrast-enhanced CT or MRI, looking for local recurrences evidenced by local foci of enhancement at the periphery of the ablation zone.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie interventionnelle, département d'imagerie médicale, institut de cancérologie Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France. debaere@igr.fr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Baere
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*