Percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of liver tumors.

Chagnon and colleagues provide with detailed description of treatment approaches to liver cancer. They focus on the use of radiofrequency ablation of lesions coupled with ultrasonographic imaging as a guide to success. Their excellent discussion of options, inclusion and exclusion criteria and outcomes is well worth reading. Every general surgeon must be aware of the best way to treat HCC, since we are just at the beginning of the epidemic of this dsease. Ishikawa’s small series of patients using microwave tumor ablation shows the value of a thoracoscopic approach for lesion of the liver dome that may be otherwise inaccessible.

– R. K. Spence.