title: Bipolar radiofrequency ablation for symptomatic giant (>10 cm) hepatic cavernous haemangiomas: initial clinical experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe initial clinical experience with bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for symptomatic giant hepatic haemangiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four consecutive patients with a large-volume, symptomatic hepatic cavernous haemangioma of >10 cm were treated with bipolar RFA during laparotomy with ultrasound guidance. Complications were carefully noted. Clinical and radiological effectiveness were evaluated comparing baseline with 3 and 6 months follow-up of symptom assessments and upper abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RFA was successfully performed for all four giant haemangiomas. No major complications were observed. Peri-procedural shrinking was remarkable and intermediate-term volume reduction ranged from 58-92% after 6 months. Symptom relief after 6 months was complete in two patients and considerable in the other two.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary results suggest intra-operative bipolar RFA to be a safe, feasible, and effective technique for treatment of giant symptomatic hepatic cavernous haemangiomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van Tilborg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Scheffer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van den Tol
authors.forename: J H T M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: van Waesberghe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sietses
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Meijerink
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D021501:Flank Pain / Q000209:etiology; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional