Ultrasonography guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for hepatic cavernous hemangioma

AIM: Hepatic cavernous hemangioma (HCH) is the mostcommon benign tumor of the liver and its management isstill controversial. Recent successin situ radiofrequencyablation of hepatic malignancies has led us to consider usingthis technique in patients with HCH. This study was to assessthe efficacy, safety, and complications of percutaneousradiofrequency ablation (PRFA) under ultrasonographyguidance in patients with HCH.METHODS: Twelve patients (four men and eight women,age ranged 33-56 years, mean age was 41.7 years) with 15hepatic cavernous hemangiomas (2.5 cm to 9.5 cm) weretreated using the RF-2000 generator and 10-needle LeVeenelectrode percutaneously guided by B-ultrasound. Lesionslarger than 3 cm were treated by multiple overlappingablations that encompass the entire lesion as well as a rimof normal liver tissue (approximately 0.5 cm).RESULTS: All the patients who received PRFA therapy hadno severe pain, bleeding or bile leakage during and afterthe procedures. Nine to 34 months′ follow-up (mean, 21months) by ultrasound and/or spiral CT scan demonstratedthat the ablated lesions in this group were shrunk remarkably,and the shrunken range was 38-79 % (mean, 67 % per 21months). The contrast enhancement was disappeared withinthe tumor or at its periphery in all cases on spiral CT scansobtained 3 to 6 months after treatment.CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that PRFAtherapy is a mini-invasive, simple, safe, and effective methodfor the treatment of selected patients with HCH.