Percutaneous US-guided radiofrequency ablation with perfused needle applicators: improved survival with the VX2 @entity5 model in XXXX .

@entity96 @entity5 @entity39 @entity95 @entity3 @entity204
PURPOSE: To evaluate survival, @entity3 , @entity5 @entity39 , and prediction of local recurrence after percutaneous ultrasonographically (US) guided radiofrequency (RF) thermal ablation with electrodes perfused continuously with isotonic saline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: VX2 @entity96 were implanted in 31 @entity95 according to a standardized protocol. After 21 days, 16 animals were treated percutaneously with RF ablation. Four animals died of complications related to anesthesia, and 12 animals were evaluated. All animals were followed for 110 days and monitored with computed tomography (CT) and US at 1, 7, and 30 days. A control group of 15 animals did not receive treatment. Autopsy was performed at the end of scheduled follow-up or immediately after @entity204 . For survival analysis, the Kaplan-Meier method was used; for nominal data, the Fisher exact test was used. RESULTS: In comparison to controls, animals in the treatment group showed significantly prolonged survival (P <.001). Eight of 12 animals (67%) treated with RF ablation survived to 110 days, while none of the controls did so. @entity3 developed in all controls (100%) and in eight of 12 treated animals (67%) (P =.001). In comparison with controls, animals that developed @entity3 despite treatment also showed significantly prolonged survival (P =.02). Local recurrence was observed in three of 12 animals (25%) in the treatment group. CT and US performed 1 week after treatment did not allow prediction of local recurrence. CONCLUSION: RF ablation of @entity96 with perfused needle applicators prolongs survival in the VX2 @entity95 @entity96 model, regardless of whether complete remission is achieved. In comparison with controls, RF ablation results in a lower frequency of @entity3 .
