Percutaneous ablation of tumours in the hepatic dome assisted by CT navigation systems. Description of technique and...

CT navigation systems enable access to lesions that are in difficult locations, with poor ultrasound visualisation, and adjacent to vulnerable structures. The objective of this study is to show how navigation systems can increase safety and precision in the ablative treatment of lesions in the hepatic dome.

A retrospective single-centre study was carried out from April 2018 to February 2022. Percutaneous ablation procedures were performed with CT-navigation system assistance on 75 patients, of which 18 had lesions in the hepatic dome (16 HCCs and 5 metastatic tumours). Syngo.via VB30 software was used to analyse the volume of lesions and ablation areas in pre- and post-treatment CT images. Technical success was determined 24 h following the procedure and according to the length of time free from tumour viability (through imaging tests every three months).

A volumetric study was carried out for 20 of the 21 lesions (95%) and technical success was achieved in 11 of the 21 lesions (52%). In 9 of the 12 lesions that completed a year of follow-up (75%), no signs of tumour viability were detected, achieving local control of the disease. Furthermore, in five of these nine lesions (56%) no progression was observed in other locations of the liver. The syngo.via software version VB30 was able to predict the area of recurrence in 71% of cases. No permanent side effects or death were secondary to the procedure.

CT navigation systems provide increased safety and precision in the percutaneous ablative treatment of tumours in the hepatic dome, making this technique a good treatment option.