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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Radiofrequency ablation of metastatic pheochromocytoma
Aradhana M Venkatesan1, Julia Locklin, Edwin W Lai
1Center for Interventional Oncology, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. venkatesana@cc.nih.gov
Abstract:
In the present report on the preliminary safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for pheochromocytoma metastases, seven metastases were treated in six patients (mean size, 3.4 cm; range, 2.2-6 cm). alpha- and beta-adrenergic and catecholamine synthesis inhibition and intraprocedural anesthesia monitoring were used. Safety was assessed by recording ablation-related complications. Complete ablation was defined as a lack of enhancement within the ablation zone on follow-up computed tomography. No serious adverse sequelae were observed. Complete ablation was achieved in six of seven metastases (mean follow-up, 12.3 months; range, 2.5-28 months). In conclusion, RF ablation may be safely performed for metastatic pheochromocytoma given careful attention to peri-procedural management.
