Radiofrequency Ablation Using Cooled-Wet Electrode

Switching Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation Using Cooled-Wet Electrode for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Preliminary Study

To determine safety, ablative zone, technical success rate and early safety data of recently introduced cool-wet electrode in eligible patients who are indicative for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver tumors.

To determine safety, ablative zone, technical success rate and early safety data (12 months local tumor progression rate) of recently introduced cooled-wet electrode in eligible patients who are indicative for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver tumors in comparison with currently used separable clustered electrode in our institution. Owing to tissue cooling effect of internally cooled-wet electrode can be used in switching bipolar mode. Patients would be randomized into two groups (cool-wet electrode group and separable clustered electrode in switching monopolar mode). The results from this preliminary study would be used for main study to compare the efficacy and safety data between two electrodes in the future.

Inclusion Criteria: all conditions have to be fulfilled.

• Diagnosed with HCC (1~5cm) according to AASLD guideline or LI-RADS on MDCT or liver MRI within 60 days before RFA
• liver metastasis histologically confirmed or characteristic findings on cross-sectional imaging
• signed informed consent
• treatment naive index tumor (no history of local treatment for an index tumor)

Exclusion Criteria:

• more than three tumors in a patients
• tumor size larger than 5cm
• tumor attaches to central portal vein or hepatic vein
• Child-Pugh classification C
• uncorrected coagulopathy
• presence of extrahepatic metastases