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Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatic Tumors: Postablation Syndrome

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229-3900.
² Academic Informatics Services, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900.

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to define the spectrum and possible predictors of symptoms that occur in patients after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS. We performed 50 consecutive percutaneous radiofrequency ablation sessions on 39 patients with a total of 89 liver tumors. All patients had pre- and postablation laboratory studies and CT or MRI scans. After treatment, patients were followed for 3 weeks with a standardized questionnaire to assess for postablation symptoms. Comparisons of the presence or absence of symptoms were made for the laboratory test values, liver volumes, and pre- and postablation tumor volumes.

RESULTS. Postablation symptoms occurred in 14 of 39 (36%) patients after 17 of 50 (34%) ablation sessions. Symptoms consisted of fever (16/17), malaise (12/17), chills (6/17), delayed pain (5/17), and nausea (2/17). On average, the symptoms presented 3 days after ablation and lasted 5 days. Statistically significant (p < 0.01) predictors of symptoms were tumor volumes > 50 cm³ (4.5 cm diameter), ablated tissue volumes > 150 cm³ (6.5 cm diameter), a difference between preablation tumor volume and the volume of tissue ablated > 125 cm³, or postablation aspartate aminotransferase levels > 350 IU/L.

CONCLUSION. Approximately one third of patients undergoing percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatic tumors develop delayed, transient flulike symptoms that can be treated conservatively and are significantly related to the volume of tissue ablated. Familiarity with this postablation syndrome should facilitate appropriate management of affected patients.

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