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Randomized controlled trial of a new procedure of radiofrequency ablation using an expandable needle for hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Hirakawa Miharu,
Ikeda Kenji,
Kobayashi Masahiro,
Kawamura Yusuke,
Hosaka Tetsuya,
Sezaki Hitomi,
Akuta Norio,
Suzuki Fumitaka,
Suzuki Yoshiyuki,
Saitoh Satoshi,
Arase Yasuji,
Kumada Hiromitsu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/hepr.12033
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , radiofrequency ablation , ablation , medicine , randomized controlled trial , surgery , nuclear medicine
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 ( L e V een S uperSlim 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 .