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Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors: No Difference in the Ablation Zone Volume Between Cirrhotic and Healthy Liver

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Abstract

Purpose

The “oven effect” theory assumes that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) would be more efficient on tumors of cirrhotic livers. The aim of the study was to compare the size and volume of the ablation zone following RFA on tumors of cirrhotic versus healthy livers.

Methods

One hundred and eleven patients who underwent RFA from 2011 to 2013 for the treatment of 140 liver tumors (83 hepatocellular carcinomas developed on a cirrhotic liver, i.e., “cirrhosis group,” and 57 tumors developed on a healthy liver, mainly liver metastasis, i.e., “healthy liver group”) using the same RFA device were retrospectively selected. The diameter and volume of the ablation zone were compared between groups at the end of the procedure (FU0), at first (FU1) and second follow-up (FU2) performed 1.6 months (± 19 days) and 4.7 months (± 40 days) post-RFA, respectively.

Results

No differences in the size or volume of the ablation zone were found between groups at FU0 (36.5 ± 12 mm vs. 34.3 ± 10 mm, p = 0.5; and 28 ± 16 mm3 vs. 26.5 ± 16 mm3, p = 0.6, respectively), FU1, or FU2. Similarly, no differences were found at FU0, FU1, or FU2 in the subgroups of tumors treated using a single radiofrequency application. The mean volume of the ablation zone decreased over time, by 33.3% at FU1 and 48.5% at FU2, without any difference between groups.

Conclusion

In contradiction to the “oven effect” theory, RFA achieves ablation zones of a comparable size and volume in cirrhotic and healthy livers.

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Abbreviations

RFA:

Radiofrequency ablation

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

LM:

Liver metastasis

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

GGT:

Gamma-glutamyl transferase

PT:

Prothrombin time

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, St-Eloi University Hospital, Montpellier, France

    Christophe Cassinotto, Lauranne Piron & Boris Guiu

  2. Department of Radiology, CHUV, Office BH10-119, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Alban Denys, Frédérique Gay, Rafael Duran & Arnaud Hocquelet

Authors
  1. Christophe Cassinotto
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  2. Alban Denys
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  3. Frédérique Gay
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  4. Rafael Duran
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  5. Arnaud Hocquelet
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  6. Lauranne Piron
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  7. Boris Guiu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alban Denys.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this study.

Informed Consent

The institutional review board approved this study and waived the informed consent requirement because of the retrospective nature of the study.

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Cassinotto, C., Denys, A., Gay, F. et al. Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Tumors: No Difference in the Ablation Zone Volume Between Cirrhotic and Healthy Liver. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 41, 905–911 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-018-1898-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-018-1898-z

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