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Image-Guided Cryoablation of the Spine in a Swine Model: Clinical, Radiological, and Pathological Findings with Light and Electron Microscopy

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to present the feasibility of an in vivo image-guided percutaneous cryoablation of the porcine vertebral body.

Methods

The institutional animal care committee approved this study. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided vertebral cryoablations (n = 22) were performed in eight pigs with short, 2-min, single or double-freezing protocols. Protective measures to nerves included dioxide carbon (CO2) epidural injections and spinal canal temperature monitoring. Clinical, radiological, and pathological data with light (n = 20) or transmission electron (n = 2) microscopic analyses were evaluated after 6 days of clinical follow-up and euthanasia.

Results

CBCT/fluoroscopic-guided transpedicular vertebral body cryoprobe positioning and CO2 epidural injection were successful in all procedures. No major complications were observed in seven animals (87.5 %, n = 8). A minor complication was observed in one pig (12.5 %, n = 1). Logistic regression model analysis showed the cryoprobe-spinal canal (Cp-Sc) distance as the most efficient parameter to categorize spinal canal temperatures lower than 19 °C (p < 0.004), with a significant Pearson’s correlation test (p < 0.041) between the Cp-Sc distance and the lowest spinal canal temperatures. Ablation zones encompassed pedicles and the posterior wall of the vertebral bodies with an inflammatory rim, although no inflammatory infiltrate was depicted in the surrounding neural structures at light microscopy. Ultrastructural analyses evidenced myelin sheath disruption in some large nerve fibers, although neurological deficits were not observed.

Conclusions

CBCT-guided vertebral cryoablation of the porcine spine is feasible under a combination of a short freezing protocol and protective measures to the surrounding nerves. Ultrastructural analyses may be helpful assess the early modifications of the nerve fibers.

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Conflict of interest

The authors Ricardo M. C. de Freitas, José Guilherme M. P. Caldas, and Celi S. Andrade declare governmental support Grants from Sao Paulo Research Foundation—FAPESP: Grant 2011/51222-8 (R. M. C. F. and J. G. M. P. C), and scholarship 2012/00398-1 (C. S. A.). Miriam H. Tsunemi, Lorraine B. Ferreira, Victor E. Arana-Chavez, Patrícia M. Cury declare no conflicts of interest related to this publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Interventional Radiology Unit of the Instituto de Radiologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, s/nº - Rua 1 - Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 05403-900, Brazil

    Ricardo Miguel Costa de Freitas, Celi Santos Andrade & José Guilherme Mendes Pereira Caldas

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Biosciences Institute, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Dist. Rubião Jr, Botucatu, SP, CEP 18618-970, Brazil

    Miriam Harumi Tsunemi

  3. Department of Oral Pathology, Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 2227, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508900, Brazil

    Lorraine Braga Ferreira & Victor Elias Arana-Chavez

  4. Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 5416, Vila São Pedro, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, CEP 15090000, Brazil

    Patrícia Maluf Cury

Authors
  1. Ricardo Miguel Costa de Freitas
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  2. Celi Santos Andrade
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  3. José Guilherme Mendes Pereira Caldas
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Correspondence to Ricardo Miguel Costa de Freitas.

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de Freitas, R.M.C., Andrade, C.S., Caldas, J.G.M.P. et al. Image-Guided Cryoablation of the Spine in a Swine Model: Clinical, Radiological, and Pathological Findings with Light and Electron Microscopy. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 38, 1261–1270 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-014-1043-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-014-1043-6

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