MRI-guided radiofrequency ablation of liver tumours: A valuable and minimally-invasive therapeutic option

Summary

This study was performed to evaluate the safety, feasibility and potential efficacy of MR-guidance for percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of hepatic malignancies. Seven patients with 12 hepatic malignant tumours (1.3–3.0 cm in diameter) were treated with RF-ablation, using cooled-tip, 16-gauge electrodes with 2–3 cm tip exposure. The electrodes were placed under MR-guidance using fast breath-hold T₁ weighted sequences on a 0.2-T MR-interventional imager. Patients were treated under local anaesthesia, general analgesia and sedation. Technical success and therapeutic assessment were evaluated on the basis of results with MR-imaging. MR-guidance was successful in all 17 sessions, with a mean procedure time of 2.0 h (1.5–2.5 h). No complications were observed and no technical problems encountered. Technical success, based on MR results, was achieved in 11 of the 12 tumours (91.6%). The follow-up MR-examinations confirmed complete necrosis of the entire tumour area in 81.8% over a period of 2–13 months. In conclusion, MR-guided RF-ablation of hepatic malignancies appears to be a safe, feasible and potentially effective method for the treatment of small hepatic malignancies.