Small hepatocellular carcinomas: ultrasonography guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation

Abdom Imaging. 2013 Feb;38(1):98-111. doi: 10.1007/s00261-012-9883-5.

Abstract

Current guidelines advocate percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation as a standard treatment of early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for up to three tumors ≤3 cm in diameter. The local efficacy evaluated with short-term radiological examination may be overrated, whereas that assessed by histopathological measure might be underestimated. Long-term clinical follow-up studies guarantee the effectiveness of RF ablation for small HCC, which is now almost comparable in benefits to surgical resection. US is the most common guiding modality for percutaneous RF ablation for small HCC. However, the technical feasibility is often limited due to poor conspicuity of the index tumor on US. Implementation of artificial ascites, contrast-enhanced harmonic US, and fusion imaging of US with CT/MR can be helpful to enhance the technical feasibility of US-guided RF ablation of small HCC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / surgery*
  • Catheter Ablation / methods*
  • Contrast Media
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Risk Factors
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional*

Substances

  • Contrast Media