Open AccessA Simple Method to Avoid Bile Duct Injury during Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Takashima Hidetaka,
Moriguchi Michihisa,
Hayashi Natsuko,
Ikeda Kyohei,
Ogiso Kiyoshi,
Yokomizo Chihiro,
Uejima Hirokazu,
Itoh Tadashi,
Tomioka Hideo,
Mizuno Shigeto,
Shimizu Seiji,
Yasui Koichiroh,
Itoh Yoshito
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
case reports in oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 19
ISSN - 1662-6575
DOI - 10.1159/000510043
Subject(s) - case report
Hepatocellular carcinoma represents a major global health burden. Its treatment is often complicated by the anatomical location of tumors, which can lead to adverse outcomes. Radiofrequency ablation has recently gained attention as a safe method for treating hepatocellular carcinoma, but only in tumors that are not adjacent to bile ducts. Here, we report a new method for cooling the bile duct during radiofrequency ablation therapy, in which the outer jacket of an elastor needle was fixed and flash-cooled with chilled saline. This method was applied in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma tumors near the main bile duct. The patient underwent successful radiofrequency ablation with bile duct cooling. The advantages of this method include low medical cost, simpler securing of nonexpanded bile ducts, and simultaneous removal upon termination of the radiofrequency ablation therapy. Bile duct complications associated with radiofrequency ablation typically have delayed onset. Computed tomography examination 2 months after treatment showed no bile duct injury in this case.