Published in:
01-04-2016
Microwave ablation of liver tumors: degree of tissue contraction as compared to RF ablation
Published in: Abdominal Radiology | Issue 4/2016
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Purpose
To compare the amount of tissue contraction after microwave (MW) versus radiofrequency (RF) ablation of liver tumors.
Materials and methods
Seventy-five hepatic tumors in 65 patients who underwent percutaneous MW or RF ablations were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent MRI within 6 months before the ablation and 24 h after the procedure. Two blinded radiologists, by consensus, performed measurements on the corresponding series of pre and post-ablation MRI. Absolute and relative contraction of liver, tumor, and control were calculated and compared.
Results
Thirty-one patients underwent MW ablations, and 44 patients underwent RF ablations. The absolute and relative contraction of the ablation zone were significantly greater with MW than RF ablation (p = 0.003 to <0.001). Thirty-two lesions were visible on both pre- and post-ablation MRI. MW ablation had significantly more tumor contraction as compared to RF ablation (p = 0.003 to 0.009). The control measurements demonstrated no significant difference in normal tissue variation between MW and RF groups.
Conclusions
MW ablation of hepatic tumors produced significantly more contraction of tumor and ablated hepatic tissue compared to RF ablation. Tissue contraction should be taken into account during pre-procedural planning and assessing treatment response by comparing pre- and post-ablation images.