Radiofrequency thermal ablation of liver tumors: State-of-the-art

Radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation is a promising and rapidly evolving te chnique for the treatment of liver malignancies. Until few years ago, conve ntional RF treatment performed with a single monopolar electrode was capabl e of producing thermal necrosis lesions not greater than 1.6 cm in diameter . Substantial improvements in the RF technique included the development of high-power generators coupled with dual-lumen, cooled-tip electrode needles or expandable electrode needles with multiple retractable lateral-exit jac khooks on the tip. Moreover, angiographically assisted strategies for furth er increasing the volume of RF-induced coagulation necrosis were devised. C urrently, thermal necrosis volumes up to 5 cm in diameter can be obtained w ith a single-probe insertion, enabling percutaneous ablation of either prim ary or secondary hepatic malignancies in a single session. in this article, we review the current research and clinical experience with RF ablation fo r treating malignant hepatic tumors.