Tanapong Panpikoon MD*, Tharintorn Treesit MD*, Jiemjit Thapaneeyakorn MD*, Banjongsak Wedsart MD*, Thanipa Inman MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : Evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic malignant tumors.
Material and Method: An ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using a 17-gauge single needle perfused-
cooled electrode (Cool-tipTM) RF ablation system was performed on 30 hepatic tumors in 26 patients between January 2009
and September 2010. The medical records, CT scan, and MRI results were assessed at one and three months after the
procedure was completed. Primary technical success, local tumor progression, and complication were also evaluated.
Results : Twenty-six hepatic lesions in 23 patients were primarily hepatocellular carcinoma. Only four lesions in three
patients were metastasized. Three of them were from colorectal cancer whilst another one was from malignant melanoma.
At 1-month follow-up imaging post percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, complete ablation rate was 86.7%. Local tumor
progression at 3-month follow-up imaging was 4.2%. The rate for minor complication was 3.8%. No major complication
was found. Complete ablation rate was found to increase significantly in tumors size of less than 2 cm compared to those
diameter larger than 2 cm (p < 0.05).
Conclusion : Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is one of the most effective and invulnerable therapeutic modality in
treatment of hepatic malignant tumor. Size is the key factor of technical success as the smaller the size of tumor, the better
the outcome achieved.
Keywords : Radiofrequency ablation, RFA, Hepatic tumor
JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND
4th Floor, Royal Golden Jubilee Building,
2 Soi Soonvijai, New Petchburi road,
Bangkok 10310, Thailand.
Phone: 0-2716-6102, 0-2716-6962
Fax: 0-2314-6305
Email: editor@jmatonline.com
» Online Submissions » Author Guidelines » Copyright Notice » Privacy Statement
» Journal Sponsorship » Site Map » About this Publishing System
© MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND. All Rights Reserved. The content of this site is intended for health professionals.