title: Radiofrequency ablation for treatment of hypersplenism: A feasible therapeutic option.
abstract: We present a case of a patient with hypersplenism secondary to portal hypertension due to hepato-splenic schistosomiasis, which was accompanied by severe and refractory thrombocytopenia. We performed spleen ablation and measured the total spleen and ablated volumes with contrast-enhanced computed tomography and volumetry. No major complications occurred, thrombocytopenia was resolved, and platelet levels remained stable, which allowed for early treatment of the patient's underlying disease. Previous work has shown that splenic radiofrequency ablation is an attractive alternative treatment for hypersplenism induced by liver cirrhosis. We aimed to contribute to the currently sparse literature evaluating the role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the management of hypersplenism. We conclude that splenic RFA appears to be a viable and promising option for the treatment of hypersplenism.
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Lopes P
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joao Paulo G
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcello S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rovella
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raphael G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Publio Cesar C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovanni Guido
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cerri
authors.affiliation: Guilherme Lopes P Martins, Joao Paulo G Bernardes, Marcello S Rovella, Raphael G Andrade, Publio Cesar C Viana, Marcos Roberto Menezes, Radiology and Image-Guided Intervention Service, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de Sao Paulo, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 01415-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Roberto
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Menezes
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D006971:Hypersplenism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Hypersplenism; Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation; Portal hypertension; Splenic ablation; Thrombocytopenia