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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Evaluation of Lung Radiofrequency Ablation With Dual-Energy Computed Tomography: Analysis of Tumor Composition and
Koji Tomita1, Takao Hiraki, Hideo Gobara
1From the Department of Radiology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of lung tumors with dual-energy computed tomography while focusing on tumor composition and lung perfusion.
Methods:
The 36 tumors in 25 patients were included. Dual-energy computed tomography was performed before RFA and at 2 days and 1, 3, and 6 months thereafter. The effective atomic number (Zeff) of the tumors before RFA was compared with the Zeff at each follow-up using the paired t test. Lung perfusion was evaluated by iodine map images. When decreased perfusion was suspected after RFA, lung perfusion scintigraphy was performed.
Results:
The mean Zeff of the tumors significantly (P < 0.001) decreased at each follow-up, compared with that before RFA. Lung perfusion in the parenchyma peripheral to the tumors appeared to decrease at 2 days in 9 tumors, which was confirmed by scintigraphy in 7 tumors.
Conclusions:
Dual-energy computed tomography was useful by providing additional information on tumor composition and lung perfusion.

