Following-up for Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy of Hepatic Cavernous Hemangiomas with Spiral CT

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of hepatic cavernous hemangioma ( HCH ) with laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy by spiral CT .Methods 27 patients with 50 HCHs were treated by laparoscopic RFA under general anesthesia. Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced triplephase helical CT images were performed in all patients within one week before RFA, one month and six months after the procedure, respectively. The helical CT features including lesion changes, parenchymal changes and complications were analysed.Results All of the 50 liver lesions were located on the liver surfaces or adjacent to the gallbladders, with a mean diameter of ( 5.5 ± 2.0 ) cm ( range 2.5~11.0 cm ) . One month after laparoscopic RFA, the diameter of lesions was appeared as unchanged in 7 lesions ( 14% ) , and increased in 43 lesions ( 86% ) . Six months later,all lesions were decreased in diameter as 60% as original lesion in diameter. 7 patients had mild right pleural effusion and limited perihepatic effusion after the procedure. Specific complications such as segmental biliary duct dilation, local atrophy, portal vein thrombosis and arterioportal fistula were not found.Conclusion Contrast-enhanced triplephase helical CT may be a precise method for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of laparoscopic RFA for HCHs