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Liver regeneration following radiofrequency ablation
Petros Ypsilantis1, Michail Pitiakoudis, Vasilios D Souftas
1Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. pipsil@med.duth.gr
Background:
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the liver leads to reduction of liver parenchymal volume. We sought to evaluate the regenerative response of the liver following RFA.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were subjected to a single session liver RFA using a cool-tip electrode after midline laparotomy. The regenerative process of the liver was assessed at various time-points (0 h, 48 h, 1 wk, 3 wk, 10 wk) in terms of computed tomography-based liver volume measurements, histological examination, hepatocyte mitotic activity, and serum biochemistry.
Results:
According to computed tomography-measurements, intact liver volume was gradually restored to the initial liver volume by the 10th week, while liver ablated volume was confined down to 50% of the initial ablated volume. At histology, inflammation, edema, and hepatocellular necrosis in the intact liver parenchyma, noted at 48 h, started to regress by 1 wk. Mitotic activity, initiated by 48 h, was substantially increased at 1 wk and remained high up to the 10th week. Serum transaminase levels were elevated up to 1 wk.
Conclusions:
Liver RFA triggers a slow but sustained regenerative response of the liver with subsequent delayed restoration of parenchymal volume, while the ablated volume is gradually condensed.
