HIGHLIGHT
Feasibility of the virtual needle tracking system for percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcimona
Akiko Tomonari1 , Kunihiko Tsuji1 , Hajime Yamazaki1 , Hironori Aoki1 , Jong-Hon Kange1 , Yoshihisa Kodama2 , Yasuo Sakurai2 and Hiroyuki Maguchi1 , Center for Gastroenterology and Department of Radiology, Teine-Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
Hepatology Research, March 2013
SUMMARY & METHODS
The authors evaluated the feasibility of ultrasound-guided virtual needle tracking used to perform percutaneous radiofrequency ablations (RFA) in eight patients with heptatocellular carcinoma.
The GE Healthcare LOGIQ E9 with Volume Navigation combined with the CIVCO VirtuTRAX was used to perform the study. The Cool-Tip RFA system from Covidien was used for ablation in all cases, and a multi-angle biopsy bracket was attached to the probe to assist with stability and alignment of the electrode.
DISCUSSION & RESULTS
In seven of eight patients, RFA was performed with a single puncture.
Due to large tumor size, one case required two pre-planned punctures. In the case of the large tumor, the virtual needle tracking system and pre-acquired ultrasound volume data set helped distinguish the needle tip from the highly echoic lesion and liver parenchyma.
No adverse events were reported.
CONCLUSIONS
The authors reported limitations of the system related to needle bend and operator learning curve, which was noted to be overcome with practice.
The study’s findings suggest the virtual tracking system helps when:
- anatomical structures in the liver obscure the needle tip
- multiple punctures are required due to ablation artifacts.
The study reported the use of virtual needle tip tracking has potential to improve accuracy in RFA and reduce procedure variability and duration.
"The virtual needle tracking device has great potential in providing more accurate and efficient sessions of RFA in several situations.
The first is in cases where the needle tip is obscured due to the condition of the surrounding liver tissue or significant subcutaneous fat tissue… With the needle tracking system, however, the needle tip is guided virtually so the location of the tip is recognized no matter the echogenicity of the surrounding liver.
The second situation for the great potential of the virtual needle tracking device is in cases where multiple punctures are necessary to ablate a large lesion."
Author Commentary
COPYRIGHT © 2013. CIVCO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CIVCO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS. VIRTUTRAX IS A TRADEMARK OF CIVCO. ALL PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE LICENSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CANADIAN LAW. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. 2013R-2740 REV. 1
