Real‐time virtual ultrasonographic radiofrequency ablation of renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of real-time virtual ultrasonography (RVS) as a new navigational tool for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of solid renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with 13 RCCs were treated with percutaneous RFA using RVS, which displays ultrasonograms and corresponding multiplanar reconstruction images of computed tomography in parallel. RESULTS: RVS allowed excellent anatomical visualization and precise navigation of RFA for RCC. All patients were treated successfully in one session with percutaneous RVS RFA. There were no significant complications, and none of the patients had a local tumour recurrence during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: RVS for RFA of solid RCC is a new and promising alternative imaging method.