Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using new monopolar wet electrode for recurred hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)
Methods and Materials: RFA using a cool-wet tip electrode® (RF Medical, Seoul, Korea) was performed in sixteen nodules of fifteen patients with recurred HCC after TACE. Monopolar wet electrode with 2 cm (n=10) or 3 cm (n=6) active tip and 200 W generator were used for 12 minutes. The mean volume of the ablating zone was measured on portal phase of immediate follow-up CT. The percentage of lipiodol accumulation (LA) in the mass, the interval period from initial TACE and repeateation of TACE were checked. We also created ablation zones using 3cm active single cool tip needle (Valleylab, Burlington) for four recurred HCC after TACE as the control group.
Results: The mean ablating volume from 2 cm and 3 cm active wet tip electrode were 11.5 ml (range: 4.8 ml - 17.5 ml) and 24.8 ml (range: 7.5 ml - 43.7 ml), respectively. Each mean of LA in 2 cm and 3 cm tip was component of 66% and 79%. The mean volume of cool tip ablating zone was 17.2 ml with LA component of 74%. Smaller LA showed larger volume of ablating zone. Period from initial TACE and repeatation was not correlated with ablating volume.
Conclusion: RFA using new cool-wet tip electrode creates a larger ablation zone enough to including lipiodolized lesion regardless of the degree of fibrosis or lipiodolized component.