Vascular complications related to image-guided percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatic tumors

Abstract

Percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatic tumors is accepted as a safe, reliable, and cost-effective therapeutic option for treating hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastases. However, operators should be familiar with the myriad of vascular and non-vascular complications that can occur post-ablation and that are described in the literature. This review will focus on the various vascular complications related to percutaneous thermal ablation of hepatic tumors and discuss strategies to avoid and manage these complications.

Keywords

• ablation
• complications
• hepatic tumors
• microwave ablation
• radiofrequency ablation