1. Randomized controlled trial of a new procedure of radiofrequency ablation using an expandable needle for hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Author
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Hirakawa M, Ikeda K, Kobayashi M, Kawamura Y, Hosaka T, Sezaki H, Akuta N, Suzuki F, Suzuki Y, Saitoh S, Arase Y, and Kumada H
- Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a new ablation procedure for the stepwise hook extension technique using a SuperSlim needle for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a randomized controlled trial was performed., Methods: Thirty patients with HCC measuring 20 mm or less were randomly treated with a conventional four stepwise expansion technique (group 1) and the new stepwise expansion technique (group 2; the electrode was closed in the shaft after the same three steps of the conventional procedure and then fully extended). All patients underwent the RFA procedure using a 10-hook expandable electrode of 17-G diameter (LeVeen SuperSlim 30 mm). We compared the ablation time, required energy and ablated lesions in the two groups., Results: The long and short diameters of RFA-induced necrosis were significantly larger in group 2 (37 and 28 mm) than group 1 (30 and 26 mm, P = 0.001 and =0.045, respectively). Irregular and small needle expansion resulting in the parachute-like or irregularly shaped ablated zone was observed in more cases in group 1 than in group 2. The new technique made all tines expand uniformly and largely, which produced a near-oval ablated zone of which the long axis is perpendicular to the needle shaft., Conclusion: The two kinds of stepwise procedures allow the selection of a more suitable procedure according to the tumor size and shape in each RFA., (© 2013 The Japan Society of Hepatology.)
- Published
- 2013
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