Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a percutaneous radiofrequency ablation device, consisting of a LeVeen probe and a newly developed 200-W radiofrequency generator.
Material and method: In 20 patients (9 male, 11 female), 30 primary and secondary liver malignancies were treated by CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The patients were separated in a potentially curable (n = 10) and a palliative (n,= 10) treatment group. The treatment was performed using an umbrella-shaped LeVeen probe with a diameter of 3.5 cm or 4 cm and a 200-W generator (Radiotherapeutics, Mountain View, CA, USA). All interventions were performed under general anesthesia by a standardized treatment protocol. The size of the lesions treated ranged from 2.2 x 2 x 2 cm to 10.8 x 10.1 x 10.5 cm.
Results: In all patients, the correct placement of the probe and radiofrequency ablation was technically successful. In two patients more than one treatment session was necessary to achieve the intended treatment result. In all patients of the potentially curable group a complete tumor necrosis could be achieved, whereas in the palliative treatment group complete tumor necrosis was only achievable in one patient. The achieved necrosis size ranged from 2.4 x 2.8 x 2.5 cm to 9.2 x 8 x 10.5 cm. In one patient a colon fistula was observed 4 weeks after treatment. No further complications were observed. The follow-up period ranges from 1 to 15 months (mean 4.5 months).
Conclusion: By use of a powerful generator in combination with a LeVeen probe percutaneous treatment of even large liver tumors is possible. Radiofrequency ablation is a safe procedure for the minimal-invasive therapy of non resectable liver neoplasms.