title: Irreversible Electroporation (IRE): Standardization of Terminology and Reporting Criteria for Analysis and Comparison.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irreversible electroporation (IRE) as newer ablation modality has been introduced and its clinical niche is under investigation. At present just one IRE system has been approved for clinical use and is currently commercially available (NanoKnife® system). In 2014, the International Working Group on Image-Guided Tumor Ablation updated the recommendation about standardization of terms and reporting criteria for image-guided tumor ablation. The IRE method is not covered in detail. But the non-thermal IRE method and the NanoKnife System differ fundamentally from established ablations techniques, especially thermal approaches, e.g. radio frequency ablation (RFA).
  
  
  METHODS
  As numerous publications on IRE with varying terminology exist so far - with numbers continuously increasing - standardized terms and reporting criteria of IRE are needed urgently. The use of standardized terminology may then allow for a better inter-study comparison of the methodology applied as well as results achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thus, the main objective of this document is to supplement the updated recommendation for image-guided tumor ablation by outlining a standardized set of terminology for the IRE procedure with the NanoKnife Sytem as well as address essential clinical and technical informations that should be provided when reporting on IRE tumor ablation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We emphasize that the usage of all above recommended reporting criteria and terms can make IRE ablation reports comparable and provide treatment transparency to assess the current value of IRE and provide further development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johann J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wendler
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ricke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jürgens
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fischbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sana Klinikum Offenbach a. M., Offenbach Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Köllermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baumunk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schostak
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe-Bernd
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Liehr
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pech
keywords: Ablation Techniques; Current Procedural Terminology; Electroporation; Irreversible Electroporation; Reference Standards; Research Design; Therapy, Soft Tissue