Abstract

To evaluate experimentally and clinically an internally cooled power laser system for percutaneous treatment of liver metastases, with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging guidance, to increase the volume of coagulative necrosis with single laser beam applications. The power laser system consisted of standard cannulation paraphernalia and a specially designed 7-F protective catheter for cooling the laser tip during treatment to avoid carbonization. A microdome laser beam applicator with a laser tip diameter of 0.95 mm kept the entire device as small as possible. After the unit was tested in 40 porcine livers, 532 laser beam applications (mean power, 27.5 W [range, 22.1-30.0 W]; mean application time, 19.8 minutes [range, 14-30 minutes]) were performed with MR guidance in 127 patients with 318 liver metastases. The safety of the procedure and the volume of induced necrosis were evaluated. In vitro, cuboid areas of coagulative necrosis with a mean greatest diameter of 4.3 cm +/- 0.5 (SD) were demonstrated after single applications. In vivo, MR thermometry allowed accurate demarcation of changes induced by heat, with a mean diameter of necrosis of 3.3 cm +/- 1.4. No carbonization or vaporization of tissue or damage of equipment occurred during treatment. This power laser system can increase the volume of laser-induced necrosis in liver metastases with a single application, thereby simplifying and accelerating the treatment of larger lesions.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.