• Stephan Clasen, Andreas Boss, Diethard Schmidt, Christina Schraml, Jan Fritz, Fritz Schick, Claus D Claussen, and Philippe L Pereira.
• Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany. stephen.clasen@med.uni-tuebingen.de
• J Magn Reson Imaging. 2007 Oct 1; 26 (4): 1043-52.

PurposeTo evaluate the feasibility and technique effectiveness of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation of hepatic malignancies.Materials And MethodsIn 64 patients, 100 primary (N = 19) or secondary (N = 81) liver tumors (mean diameter = 24.7 mm; range = 4-60 mm) were treated with 87 sessions of MR-guided RF ablation. The entire ablation procedure was carried out at an 0.2-T open MR system by using MR-compatible internally cooled electrodes. T2-weighted turbo spin echo sequences (TR/TE = 3500 msec/110 msec) were used to monitor thermally induced coagulation. Technique effectiveness was assessed four months after the last RF ablation by dynamic MR imaging at 1.5-T.ResultsMR-guided RF ablation procedures were technical successful in 85 of 87 (97.7%) assessed at the end of each session. Complete coagulation was intended in 99 of 100 tumors. Technique effectiveness was observed in 92 of 99 (92.9%) of these tumors. To achieve complete coagulation 82 of 92 (89.1%) tumors required a single session. T2-weighted sequences were accurate to monitor the extent of coagulation and were supportive to guide overlapping ablation. There were two of 87 (2.3%) major and seven of 87 (8.0%) minor complications.ConclusionMR-guided RF ablation is a safe and effective therapy in the treatment of hepatic malignancies. MR imaging offers an accurate monitoring of thermally-induced coagulation, thus enabling complete tumor coagulation in a single session.(c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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