Radio-frequency tissue ablation of the liver: in vivo and ex vivo experiments with four different systems

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of four different radio-frequency ablation (RFA) systems in normal hepatic parenchyma in large animals. The RFA was applied to pig livers in vivo and to calf livers ex vivo using the Radionics cluster needle, RITA starburst XL needle, Radiotherapeutics Le Veen 4.0 needle, and the Berchtold 14-G saline-perfused 15-mm active-tip needle based on constructor specifications. The volume of tissue coagulation from RF was calculated from measurements of the vertical diameter (Dv) and transverse diameter (Dt). Lesion shape was characterized using the ratio between Dt/Dv. Radiotherapeutics and RITA produced in vivo lesion volume of 42±10, 39±4 cm 3 with a reproducible spherical shape (Dt/Dv of 1.01±0.16 and 0.97±0.1, respectively). Radionics produced in vivo RF lesions volume of 29±11 cm 3 with an ovoid shape (Dt/Dv 0.88±0.09). The RF lesions with the Berchtold device could not be assessed in vivo as 5 of 8 animals died during treatment. Ex vivo RF lesions had similar volumes with each system; however, the Radiotherapeutics device produced more reproducible shaped lesions than the other systems. In our experimental study, we found no difference between expandable needle systems in vivo. Cooled needles produced slightly smaller and ovoid shape in vivo lesions.

RFA for Liver Tumors: Does It Really Work?

“…Local installation of cooled solutions into the tumor bed, the wet electrode, has also been used to increase the conductance of the electrical energy and volume of tumor destruction with success [11]. Multi-tined, expandable array electrodes have produced very favorable results that permit a wider radius of tissue destruction with less repositioning of the needle during treatments and fewer overall sessions [12].…”

Generation of liver-specific TGF-α and c-Myc-overexpressing fibroblasts for future creation of a liver cancer porcine model

“…Local methods of tumor ablation including TACE, percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation (33)(34)(35), microwave coagulation therapy and laser-induced thermotherapy are commonly used (36). TACE has become one of the most common forms of interventional therapy due to its low systemic toxicity and high therapeutic results (37)(38)(39).…”

Comparison between different thickness umbrella-shaped expandable radiofrequency electrodes (SuperSlim and CoAccess): Experimental and clinical study

“…In RFA, several needle electrodes have been developed, i.e., multitined expandable or cooled single electrodes in an attempt to increase the area of tissue destruction obtained with one RF delivery (8). Furthermore, optimization of the algorithm to achieve appropriate balance among ablation size, duration and precision is a requirement for developing rational strategies for tumor ablation (12)(13)(14).…”

“…One of several commercially available RF devices is the RF 3000TM RFA system (Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, MA, USA) using an umbrella-shaped expandable electrode (8). The conventional electrode (LeVeen eletrode) has a 15 G cannula and 10 tines and was the first to become commercially available, but it is thicker and less sharp than another RFA device (internally cooled electrode, Radionics, Burlington, MA, USA).…”