[Percutaneous radiofrequency and other liver ablation techniques: 2011 update]

Percutaneous ablation of liver tumors was initially limited to patients that were not surgical candidates and with a limited number of relatively small liver lesions. Because of the diversification of techniques and technologies, percutaneous liver ablation has progressively been integrating to more and more complex therapeutic strategies available to a wider group of patients. Local knowledge and expertise with these techniques, largely dominated by radiofrequency ablation, often dictate the role of these techniques in the management of patients with liver tumors. We will review the clinical indications of percutaneous ablation techniques for liver tumors based on clinical considerations as well as ablation techniques.