title: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of malignant liver tumors with ultrasound and CT fusion imaging guidance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the feasibility, accuracy, and utility of sonography (US) and CT fusion imaging guidance for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of malignant liver tumors not visualized on conventional US.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 15 patients with metastatic liver cancer with a total of 136 lesions underwent RFA with US and CT fusion imaging guidance. The mean number of punctures, success rate of a single ablation session, local tumor progression rates, and long-term outcome were evaluated. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by dynamic CT and contrast-enhanced US 1 month after RFA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RFA was technically feasible in all patients, and no major complications occurred. The mean ± SD time needed to synchronize US and CT images was 13.9 ± 11.9 minutes (range, 5-55 minutes). The success rate of a single ablation session was 83.8% (114/136), and tumor residue was present in 7.4% of lesions (10/136). The mean number of treatment sessions was 1.2 ± 0.5 sessions. During follow-up, local tumor progression was observed for 15 (11.9%) lesions. Distant tumor recurrence was found in 51 (55.4%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US and CT fusion-assisted RFA is a safe and efficacious treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Ultrasonics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
authors.forename: Zuo-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Guang-Jian
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-Da
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ming-De
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
keywords: image fusion; malignant liver tumors; radiofrequency ablation