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Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation following intra-arterial iodized-oil injection for hepatocellular carcinomas invisible on ultrasonographic images

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Abstract

Background

We aimed to evaluate therapeutic outcomes of radiofrequency (RF) ablation following intra-arterial iodized-oil injection for hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) invisible on ultrasonographic (US) images.

Materials and methods

Informed consent was waived for this retrospective study approved by our institutional review board. Sixty-seven consecutive patients with 150 HCCs (mean diameter 1.3 ± 0.6 cm; range 0.5–4.2 cm) received 90 RF sessions following intra-arterial iodized-oil injection. Each patient had at least one HCC invisible on US images. Computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided RF ablation was performed within 1 week after the injection of iodized oil from feeding arteries of each tumor. Technical success was defined as a planned electrode placement and completion of ablation protocol. Technical success, complications, changes in liver function, local tumor progression, and survival were evaluated.

Results

All HCCs became visible on CT fluoroscopy after iodized-oil injection, and RF ablation was technically successful in all sessions (technical success rate, 100%, 90/90). Major complications occurred in 6 RF sessions (6.7%, 6/90), including hemorrhage (2.2%, 2/90), portal thrombosis (2.2%, 2/90), and pneumothorax (2.2%, 2/90). No significant deterioration in Child–Pugh score was found. The mean follow-up period was 23.2 ± 18.0 months. The cumulative local tumor progression rates and overall survival rates were, respectively, 3.9 and 82.7% at 1 year, 5.3 and 45.3% at 3 years, and 5.3 and 26.4% at 5 years.

Conclusion

CT fluoroscopy-guided RF ablation following intra-arterial iodized-oil injection is a feasible, safe, and useful therapeutic option for HCCs invisible on US images.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

    Haruyuki Takaki, Koichiro Yamakado, Atsuhiro Nakatsuka, Junji Uraki, Masataka Kashima, Takashi Yamanaka & Kan Takeda

  2. Department of Translational Medical Science, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

    Tomomi Yamada

  3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mie University School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie, 514-8507, Japan

    Katsuya Shiraki & Yoshiyuki Takei

Authors
  1. Haruyuki Takaki
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  2. Koichiro Yamakado
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  3. Atsuhiro Nakatsuka
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  4. Tomomi Yamada
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  5. Junji Uraki
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  6. Masataka Kashima
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  7. Takashi Yamanaka
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  8. Katsuya Shiraki
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  9. Yoshiyuki Takei
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  10. Kan Takeda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Haruyuki Takaki.

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Takaki, H., Yamakado, K., Nakatsuka, A. et al. Computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation following intra-arterial iodized-oil injection for hepatocellular carcinomas invisible on ultrasonographic images. Int J Clin Oncol 18, 46–53 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-011-0340-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-011-0340-1

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