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Percutaneous Thermal Ablation Paper

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According to the BCLC staging system, image-guided tumor ablation is recommended in patients with early-stage HCC (Bruix and Sherman, 2011). Percutaneous thermal ablation has proven to be as effective as resection in tumors < 5 cm and offers favorable results for tumors < 7 cm for patients without other treatment options. Cryoablation appears to offer similar tumor responses to RFA, but with increased complications. At institutions without thermal ablation technology, PEI remains an inexpensive way to treat tumors < 3 cm but offers less benefit than RFA(Davis, 2010). a- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): RFA is a technology in the management of liver tumours. High-frequency alternating current (400-500KHz) is delivered through the electrodes, …show more content…

The main drawback of radiofrequency is its higher cost and the higher rate (up to 10%) of adverse events (pleural effusion – peritoneal bleeding).Procedure – related mortality ranges from 0% to 0.3% (Bruix and Sherman, 2005). This technique is best suited overall to small tumours (less than 3cm) deep within the hepatic parenchyma and away from the hepatic hilum (Bartlett et al., 2005). Complications with RFA: Complications may occur immediately or with a delay after a procedure, and may be related to the puncture, the entire procedure or to the patient’s disease and individual situation. Immediate complications can be metabolic, vascular and non-vascular, while delayed complications are determined by complex metabolic reactions, infections, biliary obstruction and tumor seeding. (De Baere et al. 2003). Or it may be divided into major and minor complications:  Major complications: • Metabolic complications • Vascular complications • Infection • Liver failure • Non-Target Thermal

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