HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kim, S. H. Articles by Lim, J. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kim, S. H. Articles by Lim, J. H. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Changes in Bile Ducts after Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Frequency and Clinical Significance

¹ All authors: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50, Ilwon-dong, Kangnam-ku, Seoul 135-710, South Korea.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of bile duct changes after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma and to evaluate their clinical significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. Between April 1999 and August 2003, 389 patients with 521 hepatocellular carcinomas underwent a total of 571 sessions of radiofrequency ablation. The maximum dimension of the tumors measured on sonography was 2.4 ± 0.9 cm (mean ± SD) (range, 0.5–5.0 cm). The frequency and type of bile duct changes resulting from radiofrequency ablation, the time interval between radiofrequency ablation and the first appearance of bile duct changes, and the serial changes at follow-up CT were analyzed. Complications related to bile duct changes were also evaluated by reviewing medical records and CT scans.

RESULTS. Bile duct changes occurred in 69 (12%) of 571 sessions and 66 (17%) of 389 patients. Bile duct changes seen on CT included mild dilatation of upstream bile ducts surrounding the ablation zone in 57 patients (82.6%), biloma in the ablation zone in four patients (5.8%), and both in eight patients (11.6%). The mean time interval between radiofrequency ablation and the initial appearance of bile duct change was 1.6 months (range, immediate–9 months). Most (87%) of the 69 patients with bile duct changes showed no progression on follow-up CT, and only nine (13%) had slight progression. All patients but one, in whom cholangitis developed, had no major complications requiring specific treatment during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION. Although bile duct changes were frequent after the radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma, most were of no clinical significance, and major complications requiring additional treatment were rare.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M.-h. Park, H. Rhim, Y.-s. Kim, D. Choi, H. K. Lim, and W. J. Lee Spectrum of CT Findings after Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatic Tumors RadioGraphics, March 1, 2008; 28(2): 379 - 390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Lee, H. Rhim, Y. H. Jeon, H. K. Lim, W. J. Lee, D. Choi, and Y.-s. Kim Radiofrequency Ablation of Liver Adjacent to Body of Gallbladder: Histopathologic Changes of Gallbladder Wall in a Pig Model Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2008; 190(2): 418 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Akahane, H. Koga, N. Kato, H. Yamada, K. Uozumi, R. Tateishi, T. Teratani, S. Shiina, and K. Ohtomo Complications of Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation for Hepato-cellular Carcinoma: Imaging Spectrum and Management RadioGraphics, October 1, 2005; 25(suppl_1): S57 - S68. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]