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Digestive Disease Interventions 2019; 03(02): 117-125
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1688724
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Thermal Ablations for Colorectal Liver Metastases

Nicolò Gennaro
1   Training School in Radiology, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
,
Giovanni Mauri
2   Division of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
,
Gianluca Maria Varano
2   Division of Interventional Radiology, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
,
Lorenzo Monfardini
3   Dipartimento di Radiologia, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, Brescia, BS, Italy
,
Vittorio Pedicini
4   Dipartimento di Radiologia, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italia
,
Dario Poretti
4   Dipartimento di Radiologia, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italia
,
Luigi Alessandro Solbiati
4   Dipartimento di Radiologia, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Italia
5   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 February 2019

28 March 2019

Publication Date:
15 May 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Approximately 25% of colorectal cancers patients will develop hepatic metastases in the course of their disease. Surgical resection of hepatic metastases remains the first treatment choice for these patients, when feasible. However, only approximately 30% of metastatic lesions are resectable at the time of diagnosis. Thermal ablations have played an increasing role over the last few decades in the palliative and curative setting of colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) in nonsurgical candidates with a liver-predominant disease. Several different techniques have been used to perform image-guided thermal ablations in the liver, including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, and laser thermal ablation. We review the current ablation techniques, image-guidance modalities, indications, and debated topics of image-guided thermal ablation in CRLMs. Moreover, recent results from clinical trials are discussed along with future trends in liver thermal ablations.

Keywords

liver - thermal ablation - colorectal metastasis
 

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