Ultrasound Overestimates the Area of Necrosis during Radiofrequency Ablation in Porcine Livers

Abstract

Results: There was a trend for increased horizontal diameter for both ultrasound (RFA 6 mins=3.8+0.5cm vs. RFA 12 mins = 5.1+1.0cm; p = 0.079) and grossly (RFA 6mins = 2.7+0.27cm vs. RFA 12mins = 3.1+0.24cm; p = 0.068) with increased RFA duration from 6 to 12 minutes, which was not observed for the longitudinal diameter. Ultrasound consistently overestimated the actual necrotic diameter by 1.3+0.8cm (range = 0.4 to 3.6cm) (p = 0.01) whether RFA was performed for 6 (1.0+0.3cm) or 12 (1.8+1.2cm) minutes.