title: Radiofrequency ablation guided by contrast-enhanced ultrasound for hepatic malignancies: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be performed effectively in small hepatic malignancies that are invisible or poorly visualized at traditional grey-scale ultrasonography (US).
  
  
  METHODS
  The institutional ethics committee approved the study, and all patients provided written informed consent before their enrolment. The study focused on 55 patients (43 men, 12 women, age 57.4 ± 10.9 years) with 60 hepatic lesions from May 2010 to March 2011. All lesions were treated with multipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA). During the RFA procedure, with the injection of ultrasound contrast agent (sulphur hexafluoride; SonoVue, Bracco Imaging Spa, Milan, Italy), RFA was conducted under CEUS guidance when the optimal depiction of a lesion was obtained. Artificial pleural effusions were used in those cases obstructed by the lungs. Twenty-four hours after RFA, contrast-enhanced MRI was used as the reference standard to evaluate the primary effectiveness rate and complete tumour necrosis. The follow-up time was 12-24 months (median 15 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 60 hepatic malignancies, CEUS detected 57 lesions (95%), which was higher than that at US (26.6%). Artificial pleural effusions were performed in three cases, resulting in the detection of three additional lesions. The insertion of RFA electrodes was monitored by CEUS in all lesions. Immediately after RFA, complete tumour necrosis were achieved in all 60 lesions as apparent at MRI, for a primary effectiveness rate of 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEUS-guided RFA is a promising technique for targeting and improving the efficiency of treatment of hepatic malignancies.
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Rd, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Dong
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Rd, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: puguang61@126.com.
authors: W-P
authors: WP
authors: Wang
authors: Liver Cancer Institute, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Rd, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors: Y-H
authors: YH
authors: Gan
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Rd, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors: B-J
authors: BJ
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Rd, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Ding
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D011846:Radio Waves; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride