Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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No-Touch Radiofrequency Ablation for Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2023 Korean Society of Image-Guided Tumor Ablation Guidelines

  • Seungchul Han (Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Min Woo Lee (Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Young Joon Lee (Department of Radiology, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Hyun Pyo Hong (Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Dong Ho Lee (Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Jeong Min Lee (Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital)
  • Received : 2023.05.07
  • Accepted : 2023.05.09
  • Published : 2023.08.01
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Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been widely used to manage hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) equal to or smaller than 3 cm. No-touch RFA has gained attention and has recently been implemented in local ablation therapy for HCCs, despite its technical complexity, as it provides improved local tumor control compared to conventional tumor-puncturing RFA. This article presents the practice guidelines for performing no-touch RFA for HCCs, which have been endorsed by the Korean Society of Image-Guided Tumor Ablation (KSITA). The guidelines are primarily designed to assist interventional oncologists and address the limitations of conventional tumor-puncturing RFA with describing the fundamental principles, various energy delivery methods, and clinical outcomes of no-touch RFA. The clinical outcomes include technical feasibility, local tumor progression rates, survival outcomes, and potential complications.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Korea Medical Device Development Fund grant funded by the Korea government (the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Health & Welfare, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) (Project Number: RS2020-KD000303, 1711138983).

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