BACKGROUND Radiofrequency (RF) ablation causes thermal mediated irreversible myocardial necrosis. This study aimed to (i) characterize the thermal characteristics of RF ablation lesions with high spatial resolution using a thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) myocardial phantom; and (ii) compare the thermochromic lesions with in vivo and in vitro ablation lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS The myocar...

OBJECTIVE To determine the ability of MR imaging to detect the pathological changes occurring in radiofrequency (RF) thermal lesions and to assess its accuracy in revealing the extent of tissue necrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using an RF electrode, thermal lesions were created in the livers of 18 rabbits. The procedure involved three phases. In the acute phase, six animals were killed the day...

Volumetric High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) ablation has several advantages as compared to the traditional point-by-point ablation, such as improved energy efficiency and homogeneous thermal lesions with sharp borders [1]. However, there is an increased risk of excessive off-focus heating, especially in the near-field [2], and the thermal lesions can also vary in shape and size due to l...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate experience with and determine the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation in the management of spinal osteoid osteomas close to neural elements. MATERIALS AND METHODS The records of all patients with osteoid osteomas of the spine managed with thermal ablation at two academic centers from 1993 to 2008 were reviewed. RESULTS Seventeen patien...

BACKGROUND Remote heating of metal located near a radiofrequency ablation source has been previously demonstrated. Therefore, ablation of cardiac tissue treated with metallic nanoparticles may improve local radiofrequency heating and lead to larger ablation lesions. We sought to evaluate the effect of magnetic nanoparticles on tissue sensitivity to radiofrequency energy. METHODS AND RESULTS A...

In this issue of the European Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dr Baisi et al. [1] from Milan have summarized some of the literature regarding the use of thermal ablation for pulmonary tumours. They have also described some of their own personal experience with 26 cases. Their primary discussion has focused on the use of radiofrequency ablation, and to a lesser extent, on microwave ablation. ...

Image-guide thermal ablations are nowadays increasingly used to provide a minimally invasive treatment to patients with renal tumours, with reported good clinical results and low complications rate. Different ablative techniques can be applied, each with some advantages and disadvantages according to the clinical situation. Moreover, percutaneous ablation of renal tumours might be complex in ca...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to research the lesion outline and temperature field in different ways in atrial radiofrequency ablation by using finite element method. METHODS This study used the method which considered the thermal dosage to determine the boundary between viable and dead tissue, and compared to the 50 °C isotherm results in analyzing lesion outline. Besides, we used Hype...

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is currently the most popular and used ablation modality for the treatment of non surgical patients with primary and secondary liver tumors, but in the last years microwave ablation (MWA) is being technically improved and widely rediscovered for clinical use. Laser thermal ablation (LTA) is by far less investigated and used than RFA and MWA, but the available data ...

Ablative treatments are gaining increasing attention as an alternative to standard surgical therapies, especially for patients with contraindication or those who refuse open surgery. Thermal ablation is used in clinical applications mainly for treating heart arrhythmias, benign prostate hyperplasia, and nonoperable liver tumors; there is also increasing application to other organ sites, includi...