Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as an effective loco-regional treatment modality for malignant hepatic tumors. Indeed, studies have demonstrated that RFA of early stage hepatocellular carcinomas can provide comparable overall survival to surgical resection. However, the incidence of local tumor progression (LTP) after RFA is significantly higher than that of surgical resection. Thus, to overcome this limitation, multiple electrode radiofrequency (RF) systems that use a multi-channel RF generator have been developed, and they demonstrate better efficiency in creating larger ablation zones than that using the conventional RFA with a single electrode. Furthermore, RFA with multiple electrodes can allow the “no-touch” ablation technique which may also help to reduce LTP. Another technique that would be helpful in this regard is multi-modality-ultrasound fusion imaging, which helps to not only more accurately determine the target lesion by enabling the RFA of small, poorly visible or invisible tumors, but also improve the monitoring of procedures and determine the appropriateness of the ablation margin. In addition, new energy sources, including microwave and cryoablation, have been introduced in imaging-guided tumor ablation. In this review, these recently introduced ablation techniques and the results of the most current animal and clinical studies are discussed.
Ablation Techniques ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheter Ablation* ; Cryosurgery ; Electrodes* ; Incidence ; Liver* ; Microwaves

We report two cases of needle-tract seeding after cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinomas. The seeding nodule appeared 6 and 12 months on the follow-up computed tomographic scan, respectively. In both cases, the seeding nodules were solitary in the chest wall, and could be completely resected.
Ablation Techniques ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Catheter Ablation ; Cryosurgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax

To compare the effectiveness and complications of various thermal ablative therapies through reviewing the available literature. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement was used to report this systematic review. Our PICO (patient group-intervention-comparator-outcomes) question: In patients with unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM), what are the comparative effectiveness and complication rates of the various thermal ablative therapies? All study designs published between 2000 and 2012 considered. Search results were screened in duplicate to determine eligible studies. A customized "risk of bias" assessment tool was utilized. Asymmetry of the funnel plot and heterogeneity were quantified. Representative forest plots of the 1, 3, and 5 years survival rates, major complication rates and local recurrence rates were performed. Data not amenable to pooling is presented in a qualitative and tabular manner. Thirty radiofrequency ablation (RFA), 11 cryoablation (CA), and 5 microwave ablation (MWA) studies were finally included in the qualitative synthesis. The number of patients included from all the studies was 3,107 patients; 2,021 in the RFA group, 988 in the CA, and 98 in the MWA. The forest plots confirm the significant heterogeneity of the included studies. Visual assessment of forest plots, as well as qualitative analysis of included papers suggested that between-studies heterogeneity was too great and thus, pooling through meta-analysis was not appropriate. RFA is the most commonly used ablative modality to treat unresectable CRCLM. Significant heterogeneity of the included studies was encountered precluding a meaningful meta-analysis. Future comparisons of local ablative therapies outcome necessitate prospective, randomized controlled studies.
Ablation Techniques ; Catheter Ablation ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cryosurgery ; Forests ; Humans ; Liver* ; Microwaves ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Population Characteristics ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

This research focuses on four cases of patients having undergone eximer laser photorefractive surgery who were diagnosed with adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis during the postoperative period and who later developed epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC)-like keratitis. Two of the patients had undergone laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK), one had undergone laser in situ keratomileusis and one had photorefractive keratectomy. After the surgery adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis and recurrent late-developing EKC-like keratitis were observed in the patients. Recurrent late-developing EKC-like keratitis occurred in one of the patients, who had received LASEK as many as three times. The others had only one or two episodes.The corneal infiltrates of keratitis mainly occurred in the central cornea. Successful resolution of recurrent late-developing EKC-like keratitis was achieved through the use of topical steroids without sequelae and the final best-corrected visual acuity was as good as the base line. These keratitis infiltrates have been presumed to represent an immune response to the suspected adenoviral antigens deposited in corneal stroma during the primary adenoviral infection. Previous reports argued that patients with a history of adenoviral ketatoconjunctivitis were succeptible to adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis becoming reactivated; however, in our research, our patients had their first adenoviral infections after the eximer laser photorefractive surgery and reactivation was confirmed. We recommend that attention be paid to adenoviral infection after laser refractive operations, because these patients seem to have more frequent recurrences.
Adenovirus Infections, Human/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Adult ; Conjunctivitis, Viral/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; *Corneal Surgery, Laser ; Eye Infections, Viral/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted ; Keratitis/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Lasers, Excimer/therapeutic use ; Photorefractive Keratectomy ; *Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

The therapeutic effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been clinically established, and the procedure is now generally accepted as a curative treatment for very early or early stage HCC. Recently, we observed an aggressive recurrence after RFA for HCC in 50 year-old female. RFA was performed for a 2.7 cm sized HCC, which was completely ablated. However, 7 months later, aggressive intrahepatic recurrence was observed. Herein, we report a case with a discussion.
Ablation Techniques ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Catheter Ablation* ; Female ; Humans ; Recurrence

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of the multi-zone cross-cylinder method as compared with the single method for astigmatism correction using LASIK. This prospective study enrolled 40 patients (52 eyes) who underwent the cross-cylinder method using LASIK, and 52 patients (60 eyes) who underwent the single method using LASIK: all patients were given a diagnosis of complex myopic astigmatism from the department of ophthalmology of this hospital between January 2002 and July 2003. Preoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent refraction was .3.85 +/- 1.13 D in the cross-cylinder group and .4.05 +/-1.20 D in the single method group (p = 0.23). The mean cylinder was .2.05 +/-1.58 D in the cross-cylinder group and .1.95 +/-1.12 D in the single method group (p = 0.31). 6 months after treatment the results were a mean spherical equivalent refraction of .0.26 +/-0.30 D in the crosscylinder group and -0.34 +/-0.35 D in the single method group (p = 0.13). The mean cylinder was .0.38 +/-0.29 D in the cross-cylinder group and .0.45 +/-0.30 D in the single method group (p = 0.096). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The mean BCVA was not different from mean preoperative BCVA in both groups (i.e., 0.98 +/-0.10, 0.96 +/-0.25, p = 0.86). Postoperatively, patient complications that included night halo, glare and corneal haze were not noted in either group. In conclusion, the results of cross-cylinder method are no different from the single method for the correction of a complex astigmatism. In the future, studies will have to be conducted to assess the efficacy of the cross-cylinder method in consideration of those factors that can affect the postoperative outcome.
Adult ; Astigmatism/*surgery ; Corneal Stroma/surgery ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ/*methods ; Myopia/*surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: To compare the changes in posterior corneal curvature using scanning slit topography (Orbscan II) and Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam) before and after Epi-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia. METHODS: In a prospective observational case-series study, 20 myopic patients having undergone Epi-LASIK were examined serially with two different devices, Orbscan II and Pentacam, preoperatively and one month postoperatively. Posterior central elevation (PCE) and posterior maximal elevation (PME) were compared between the two devices, and the changes in parameters after Epi-LASIK were analyzed using a difference map. RESULTS: All parameters (preoperative and postoperative PCE and preoperative and postoperative PME) that were measured using the Orbscan II were significantly greater compared to those of the Pentacam (for all p < 0.001). PCE and PME were significantly increased one month postoperatively in the Orbscan II measurements (p < 0.05) but were not significantly increased in the Pentacam measurements. Also, DeltaPCE and DeltaPME, in the difference map obtained by each serial scanning, were significantly greater in the Orbscan II measurements than with the Pentacam (p = 0.012, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The Pentacam measurements displayed significantly reduced values in all parameters related to posterior corneal elevation compared to those of the Orbscan II. The Pentacam showed no significant change in posterior corneal curvature after Epi-LASIK, based on the difference map.
Adult ; Corneal Topography/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ/*methods ; Male ; Myopia/*surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To determine factors which influence forward displacement of the posterior surface of conea after performing LASIK with residual corneal thickness greater than 250 micro meter. METHODS: We studied 100 eyes of 50 myopic patients with an expected residual corneal thickness of greater than 250 micro meter after underwent LASIK. Residual corneal thickness, amount of laser ablation, intraocular pressure, spherical equivalent of cornea (keratometer), corneal diameter, corneal thickness, and anterior chamber depth were obtained at the preoperative stage, the postoperative one week, one month. Computed topography of cornea was performed between before and after LASIK. We evaluated the influence the forward displacement of posterior surface of conea by LASIK procedure. RESULTS: Average forward displacement of posterior surface of the cornea was 38+/-12 micro meter, and among preoperative factors, preoperative corneal thickness showed relatively high correlation with r=0.462 (P<0.001), having influence on the forward displacement. The displacement measured 1 month after LASIK was shown to decrease slightly (31+/-8 micro meter) compared that the displacement measured at 1 week after LASIK. CONCLUSIONS: Despite performing LASIK with residual corneal thickness of greater than 250 micro meter, if pre- operative corneal thickness is thin, one should be careful about anterior displacement of corneal posterior surface, and this change usually occurs within 1 week.
Anterior Chamber ; Cornea ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Laser Therapy

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency catheter ablation was introduced the curative method of supraventricular tachycardia in patients with accessory pathways. The success of catheter ablation depends on the accurate localization of accessory pathway and the destruction of accessory pathways. METHOD: We analyzed the local electrograms in 35 patients to be underwent the successful catheter ablation and measured the catheter stability, A/V ratio, AV interval, Accessory pathway potential, and the interval from the onset of RF energy to loss of accessory pathway from local electrograms at the successful ablation sites. RESULTS: The ratio of A wave and V wave range from 0.06 to 6.33 and the mean of A/V ratio is 0.62. The shortest AoVo interval is 20 msec and the longest AoVo interval is 120 msec and the mean of AoVo interval is 58.23 msec. The shortest ApVp interval is 20 msec and the longest ApVp interval is 100 msec and the mean of this interval is 51.88 msec. The incidence of accessory pathway potential among 35 successful ablation sites in 25%. The mean of time from RF energy to loss of accessory pathway is 4.48 sec. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the finding of local electrogram during catheter ablation is very important for shortening of procedure time and the successful procedure.
Catheter Ablation* ; Catheters ; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Laser Coagulation ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use