RFA Procedure: A Case Study

HCCs, who initially managed by percutaneous RFA. From June 2000 through December 2006, among HCC, 256 patients with HCC were treated with RFA in our center, we identified 64 with cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia as reflected by a platelet count 37-99 x 109 /L. Statistical analysis was performed for factors suggested to contribute to bleeding or liver decompensation. Selection Criteria for RFA Procedures. In our institute, the decision of treatment is individually for each patient by a medico-surgical staff after staging the disease in accordance with current therapeutic recommendations (9) .Selection criteria for RFA of the HCC were (i) tumor size less than 5 cm in diameter, (ii) no portal or segmental invasion adjacent to the tumor, (iii) less than four concomitant tumors in the whole liver, and (iv) contraindications to resection as first-line treatment. Patients were not eligible for RF treatment in cases of extra hepatic metastasis, severe liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh class C), or significantly abnormal coagulation test results (prothrombin activity < 40%, platelet count …show more content…
Pre-treatment work-up included gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasound (US) examination, as well as non enhanced and dual-phase contrast material–enhanced helical computed tomography (CT) using a spiral CT unit (PQ 6000; Marconi-Philips, Cleveland, Ohio). The first nonenhanced scanning over the entire liver with 8-mm collimation, a pitch of 1.5, and reconstructions every 8 mm was followed by two contrast material–enhanced passes with 5-mm collimation, a pitch of 1.5, and reconstructions every 5 mm for 20 seconds during the arterial phase and for 60 seconds during the portal venous phase of the intravenous injection of iodinated contrast medium. A 170-mL volume of the contrast medium (iohexol, Omnipaque [300 mg of iodine per milliliter]; Amersham, Cork, Ireland) was systematically injected, at a rate of 5 mL/min, through an 18-gauge catheter inserted into a forearm