Radiofrequency thermal ablation: imaging guided therapeutic applications.

Minimally invasive, image guided radiofrequency ablation RFA now provides an effective local treatment of isolated or localized neoplastic diseases, and is also being used as an adjunct to conventional surgery, systemic chemotherapy or radiation. It is now the front line treatment in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and its use in other neoplastic diseases continues to expand. This update introduces the technique to alleviate inoperable tumours and application of RFA in therapeutic imaging.

Current radiologic interventions in hepatocellular carcinoma.

With the rising incidence of chronic liver disease caused by viral hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma is showing a corresponding rise worldwide. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, but patients unfit for surgery or liver transplantation form the bulk of those presenting with this disease. Palliative treatments are being used to treat those and radiological modalities form the mainstay of the treatment. Radiology plays a major role in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of hepatocellular carcinoma. Current radiological treatment modalities include percutaneous ethanol ablation, radiofrequency ablation and trans-arterial chemoembolization. This update highlights the recent advancements in the field and compares their relative merits and demerits.