Temperature variation during percutaneous radiofrequency ablation treatment for vertebral tumor:an in vivo study in experimental rabbits / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the temperature variation within intra-spinal canal and intra-spinal tumor during percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure for vertebral tumor in experimental rabbits. Methods Eight New Zealand white rabbits were transplanted with VX2 carcinoma in the lumbar vertebral body by percutaneous puncture inoculation technique under CT guidance in order to set up vertebral tumor models. The eight vertebral tumor models were treated with RFA under CT guidance. The temperature within the spinal canal and vertebral tumor of rabbits was measured and recorded every 30 seconds during the RFA treatment. The results were statistically analyzed by paired sampled t text. Results The intra-tumor temperature rose to 90℃ rapidly and remained stable during the whole RFA procedure, whereas the temperature in the spinal canal exceeded 42℃ when treatment time was over three minutes during the procedure. Statistically significant difference in the temperature level during RFA existed between the spinal canal and the vertebral tumor (P < 0.05). Conclusion The temperature in the vertebral tumor of rabbit can quickly reach to the therapeutic level during RFA. Prolonging operative time of RFA may hurt the nerve due to high temperature.