Current Status Of Radiofrequency Ablation Research Articles

Radiofrequency ablation treatment for aldosterone-producing adenomas.

To review the current status of radiofrequency ablation as a primary treatment for hyperfunctioning adrenal nodules, predominantly aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs). Radiofrequency ablation is an established treatment for focal benign and malignant lesions, including metastatic disease to the adrenal gland. Hyperaldosteronism is the leading cause of secondary hypertension with up to 80% due to APA, statistically the most common functioning adrenal nodule. Although surgery remains the recommended treatment of choice for confirmed unilateral functioning adrenal nodules, radiofrequency ablation offers a less-invasive approach, with results comparable with surgery. Radiofrequency ablation of functioning adrenal nodules is a newer application of a technology in use for almost 2 decades. Although limited, reports to date suggest that results are comparable with those of laparoscopic adrenalectomy, but with advantages including being a less-invasive outpatient procedure with lower morbidity, faster recovery, and lower cost. However, the current data are all retrospective, the number of patients treated is small, and reported long-term results are limited.

Current status and updates of radiofrequency ablation for colorectal liver metastasis

Colorectal cancer is a kind of common malignant tumor, the incidence of which appears to increase with the developments of social economy and change of life style. Liver metastasis occurred in about 50% of patients with colorectal cancer, as an important cause of death. In recent years, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used clinically to damage the hepatic metastatic carcinoma. With the characteristics of accuracy, micro-invasive trauma and repeatability, RFA has been extensively used as an effective local treatment. This paper discusses the indications of RFA for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), current status of RFA in unresectable and resectable CRLM, application of RFA in combine therapy for CRLM. Key words: Colorectal neoplasms; Liver metastases; Radiofrequency ablation

Local thermal ablation of renal cell carcinoma

With evolving local thermal ablation technology, the clinical application of thermal ablation has been actively investigated in the treatment for renal cell carcinoma. We review the evolution and current status of radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation for renal cell carcinoma. All articles published in English on radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation as a treatment for renal cell carcinoma were identified with a MEDLINE® and PubMed® search from 1990 to 2010. Local thermal ablation has several advantages, including keeping more normal renal units, relatively simple operation, easy tolerance, fewer complications, a shorter hospitalization and convalescence period. Long-term data has determined radiofrequency ablation is responsible for poor surgical candidates with renal cell carcinoma, however, tumor size, location and shape might affect the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation. Microwave ablation can induce large ablation volumes and yield good local tumor control. Associated complications appear to be low. Local ablative approaches seem to represent an attractive alternative to extirpative surgery for the treatment of small renal neoplasms in select patients. Potential developments include concepts to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of thermal ablation by improving the guiding, monitoring capabilities and detection capacity of multi-center lesions to provide at least equivalent cancer control to conventional surgery.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Literature Review

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver cancers can be performed safely using percutaneous, laparoscopic, or open surgical techniques, and much of the impetus for the use of RFA has come from cohort series that have provided an evidence base for this technique. Here, we give an overview of the current status of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including its physical properties, to assess the characteristics that make this technique applicable in clinical practice. We review the technical development of probe design and summarize current indications and outcomes of reported clinical use. An accurate evaluation of treatment response is very important to secure successful RFA therapy since a sufficient safety margin (at least 0.5 cm) can prevent local tumor recurrences. We also provide a profile of side effects and information on the integration of this technique into the general management of patients with HCC. To minimize complications of RFA, physicians should be familiar with each feature of complication. Appropriate management of complications is essential for successful RFA treatment. Moreover, adjuvant therapy, such as molecular targeted therapies following curative therapy, is expected to further improve survival after RFA.

Current status of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer

射频消融(radiofrequency ablation,RFA)作为一种微创治疗手段,在治疗中晚期肺癌或肺转移癌方面取得了显著成效,国内外已有大量文献报道[1-2].但是,近几年国外学者将RFA用于治疗Ⅰ期非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)也取得了初步效果[3-4],并引起了相关学者的广泛兴趣和重视.然而,迄今为止国内尚无这方面的研究报道,因此笔者根据国外文献就有关这方面的内容综述如下,以期对肺癌的综合治疗有所帮助和指导。

Current status of radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Loco-regional treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are important alternatives to curative transplantation or resection. Among them, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is accepted as the most popular technique showing excellent local tumor control and acceptable morbidity. The current role of RFA is well documented in the evidence-based practice guidelines of European Association of Study of Liver, American Association of Study of the Liver Disease and Japanese academic societies. Several randomized controlled trials have confirmed that RFA is superior to percutaneous ethanol injections in terms of local tumor control and survival. The overall survival after RFA is comparable to after surgical resection in a selected group of patients with smaller (< 3 cm) tumors. Currently, the clinical benefits of combined RFA with transarterial chemoembolization for intermediate stage HCC are increasingly being explored. Here we review the ongoing technical advancements of RFA and future potential.

The Current Role of Radiofrequency Ablation in the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

To review the current status of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The development of local ablative therapy has been 1 of the major advances in the treatment of HCC. Its role in the management of HCC is still rapidly evolving. Studies were identified by searching Medline, and PubMed databases for articles from January 1997 to April 2008 using the keywords "radiofrequency ablation," "hepatocellular carcinoma" and "ablation of HCC." Additional papers were identified by a manual search of the references from the key articles. Randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized comparative studies, cohort studies, were reviewed. Cohort studies with follow-up of less than 12 months and case reports were excluded. Five aspects of RFA were analyzed: (1) RFA in comparison with other local ablative therapies; (2) RFA for unresectable HCC; (3) RFA as bridging therapy before liver transplantation; (4) RFA as primary treatment for resectable HCC; and (5) RFA for recurrent HCC after partial hepatectomy. Ten RCTs, 8 nonrandomized controlled trials and 26 cohort studies were included in this analysis. The evidence in the medical literature showed RFA was more effective than other local ablative therapies, and supported its use in the treatment of unresectable small HCC, recurrent small HCC, and as bridging therapy before liver transplantation, and as a primary treatment in competition with partial hepatectomy for resectable small HCC.

Current role of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of colorectal liver metastases

This paper reviews the current status of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. Relevant studies with at least ten patients that reported rates of complete tumour ablation, local recurrence, or survival from 1 to 5 years after treatment were included in the review. Only six studies that reported at least 3-year survival were identified, with results ranging from 37 to 58 per cent. Some of these figures are promising, given that the patients were considered to have unresectable disease. However, available evidence is limited and hepatic resection remains the standard of care when feasible; radiofrequency ablation cannot be considered an equivalent. Radiofrequency ablation does, however, appear to have a role in treating unresectable disease, and may also be used in conjunction with resection to extend its limits.

Current status of radio-frequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Radio-frequency ablation (RFA) is the latest developed and widely practised local ablation therapy for liver tumours. It has the merit of effective tumour ablation and preservation of the maximal normal liver parenchyma. In the past few years, there has been tremendous expansion in the application of RFA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, the therapeutic effect of this local-ablation treatment needs to be balanced against its risks and possible local failure. METHODS: This review focuses on the current status of RFA for HCC, with attention to its indications, approaches, risks, local failure, and survival benefit. RESULTS: Although the results of most clinical studies of RFA seem optimistic, the associated complication and tumour recurrence should not be overlooked. Careful patient selection, meticulous RFA techniques, and prompt treatment of residual and recurrent tumours are necessary to ensure a better outcome after RFA. CONCLUSIONS: Until recently, there has been no strong evidence showing that RFA can replace any treatment modalities in the management of HCC. Nonetheless, more convincing evidence by randomised trials is required for the establishment of a treatment protocol of RFA for HCC patients.

Current status of radiofrequency ablation for common pediatric supraventricular tachycardias

Much has changed since 1987 when surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias was reviewed in this journal.1 At that time, surgery was the definitive treatment if medical therapy failed or was not tolerated. Since 1989, when radiofrequency ablation was first used for pediatric patients with supraventricular tachycadia (SVT),2-4 transcatheter treatment of arrhythmias has emerged as a frontline treatment at pediatric centers in the United States and abroad.5-7