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Percutaneous US-guided Radiofrequency Ablation with Perfused Needle Applicators: Improved Survival with the VX2 Tumor Model in Rabbits¹

¹ From the Department of Medicine I (J.H., M.W., T.B., T.S., M.F., S.S., E.G.H., D.S.), Institute of Pathology (D.N.), and Institute of Diagnostic Radiology (R.J.), Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Ulmenweg 18, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University Furthwangen, Germany (W.M.); and Department of Medicine, Hospital of Eckernfoerde, Germany (D.B.). Received September 3, 2002; revision requested November 18; final revision received April 15, 2003; accepted April 30. Supported by grants from the Bavarian Economics Ministry (High-Tech Projekt: Leitprojekte Medizintechnik) and the Hans-Löwel-Foundation, Bamberg. Address correspondence to J.H. (e-mail: johannes.haensler@med1.med.uni-erlangen.de).

PURPOSE: To evaluate survival, metastases, tumor necrosis, and prediction of local recurrence after percutaneous ultrasonographically (US) guided radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation with electrodes perfused continuously with isotonic saline.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: VX2 liver tumors were implanted in 31 rabbits according to a standardized protocol. After 21 days, 16 animals were treated percutaneously with RF ablation. Four animals died of complications related to anesthesia, and 12 animals were evaluated. All animals were followed for 110 days and monitored with computed tomography (CT) and US at 1, 7, and 30 days. A control group of 15 animals did not receive treatment. Autopsy was performed at the end of scheduled follow-up or immediately after death. For survival analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method was used; for nominal data, the Fisher exact test was used.

RESULTS: In comparison to controls, animals in the treatment group showed significantly prolonged survival (P < .001). Eight of 12 animals (67%) treated with RF ablation survived to 110 days, while none of the controls did so. Metastases developed in all controls (100%) and in eight of 12 treated animals (67%) (P = .001). In comparison with controls, animals that developed metastases despite treatment also showed significantly prolonged survival (P = .02). Local recurrence was observed in three of 12 animals (25%) in the treatment group. CT and US performed 1 week after treatment did not allow prediction of local recurrence.

CONCLUSION: RF ablation of liver tumors with perfused needle applicators prolongs survival in the VX2 rabbit liver tumor model, regardless of whether complete remission is achieved. In comparison with controls, RF ablation results in a lower frequency of metastases.

© RSNA, 2003

Index terms: Animals • Experimental study • Liver neoplasms, therapeutic radiology, 761.1269 • Radiofrequency (RF) ablation

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