MR-guided percutaneous cryotherapy of liver metastases

The prognosis for patients with liver metastases depends on the therapeutic options regarding the treatment of the primary tumor, co-existing extrahepatic metastases and the extent and treatment possibilities of the hepatic metastases themselves. Numerous curative or palliative oncological therapeutic concepts have been introduced in case of non-resectable liver metastases to prolong survival while maintaining a highest possible quality of life. Cryotherapy, which can be performed percutaneously and under magnetic resonance guidance, is one of these manifold therapeutic modalities, combining the inherent advantages of MRI with minimal invasiveness. Excellent visualization of the frozen liver tissue, precise tumor ablation, as well as an almost painless intervention due to the analgetic effect of the ice are implicating percutaneous cryotherapy as an attractive alternative to other ablation techniques. First clinical results are promising. However, meticulous and extensive long-term evaluation on a broad clinical scale is required. (orig.)