title: Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors: How We Do It Safely and Completely.
abstract: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation has become one of the most promising local cancer therapies for both resectable and nonresectable hepatic tumors. Although RF ablation is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of liver tumors, the outcome of treatment can be closely related to the location and shape of the tumors. There may be difficulties with RF ablation of tumors that are adjacent to large vessels or extrahepatic heat-vulnerable organs and tumors in the caudate lobe, possibly resulting in major complications or treatment failure. Thus, a number of strategies have been developed to overcome these challenges, which include artificial ascites, needle track ablation, fusion imaging guidance, parallel targeting, bypass targeting, etc. Operators need to use the right strategy in the right situation to avoid the possibility of complications and incomplete thermal tissue destruction; with the right strategy, RF ablation can be performed successfully, even for hepatic tumors in high-risk locations. This article offers technical strategies that can be used to effectively perform RF ablation as well as to minimize possible complications related to the procedure with representative cases and schematic illustrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea. ; Center for Aging and Geriatrics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Seon
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hoe
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Yeon
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 61469, Korea.
authors.forename: Heoung Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D001201:Ascites; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Ablative margin; Complications; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver tumors; Radiofrequency ablation