title: Evaluation of ghost cell survival in the area of radiofrequency ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Researchers have demonstrated dead cells in radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesions that have morphological similarities to viable tumor cells and are thus referred to as ghost cells. However, studies on how long ghost cells persist have not been systematically performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tumor model was established by implanting VX2 tumor tissue into the livers of 48 New Zealand rabbits. Two weeks later, these tumors were eliminated with RFA. The lesions were resected at 0 weeks, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, or 12 weeks after treatment, and samples were stained either with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The presence of the cells and the morphological changes that they underwent were examined by light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four weeks after RFA, there were no obvious morphological changes observed in HE-stained ghost cells, and NADH staining revealed no viable cells. Eight weeks after RFA, the cell structure became indistinct. Twelve weeks after RFA, ghost cells were no longer present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The morphological characteristics of ghost cells are maintained for at least 4 weeks, during which time HE staining cannot be used to differentiate ghost cells from residual tumor cells. NADH staining for cell viability is necessary to differentiate residual tumor cells from ghost cells. This evidence adds to our understanding of the mechanisms of RFA when used on solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiansheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuansheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Tingjun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shugang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bie
authors.forename: Zhenping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits