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Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation

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Abstract

Purpose

To describe the technique of percutaneous stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA) and its application in a patient with an unresectable multifocal intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Materials and Methods

A 72-year-old man presented with two nodules of an ICC with a maximum diameter of 10 and 4 cm, respectively. To produce overlapping ablation areas and cover the entire tumor volume, 18 paths for the placement of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probes at multiple locations were planned on 2D and 3D reconstructions of the computed tomographic (CT) data. The 15-gauge coaxial needles were advanced through the aiming device to the preplanned depth. A control CT fused to the planning CT data confirmed correct needle placements. RFA was performed with an impedance-based multiple-electrode RFA system. Fusion of the contrast-enhanced control CT with the planning CT showed an appropriate zone of ablation.

Results

Besides a mild asymptomatic pleural effusion, no complications occurred. Twenty-seven months after the first RFA, two new small distant liver metastases were successfully treated by SRFA. Currently, 38 months after diagnosis and 36 months after the first SRFA, the patient is free of detectable disease.

Conclusion

SRFA seems to offer an effective treatment option in selected patients with even unresectable ICC.

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Conflict of interest

The first author is a co-inventor of the Atlas aiming device and the BodyFix double-vacuum immobilization system and a co-shareholder in their financial returns.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Microinvasive Therapy (SIP), Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Reto Bale, Gerlig Widmann & Marion Haidu

  2. Department of Radiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Reto Bale, Gerlig Widmann & Marion Haidu

Authors
  1. Reto Bale
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  2. Gerlig Widmann
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  3. Marion Haidu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marion Haidu.

Additional information

R. Bale and M. Haidu contributed equally to this work.

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Bale, R., Widmann, G. & Haidu, M. Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 34, 852–856 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-010-9966-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-010-9966-z

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