ArticleEuropean radiology2020
Minimal ablative margin (MAM) assessment with image fusion: an independent predictor for local tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma after stereotactic radiofrequency ablation.
Article in European radiology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 59 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
59 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 120 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma at specific anatomic sites of the liver: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC gastroenterology · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of fusion imaging for immediate post-ablation assessment of malignant liver neoplasms: A systematic review.Cancer medicine · 2023Pooled it
- Estimation of tumor coverage after RF ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma using single 2D image slices.International journal of computer assisted radiology and surgery · 2025Trial
- Software-based versus visual assessment of the minimal ablative margin in patients with liver tumours undergoing percutaneous thermal ablation (COVER-ALL): a randomised phase 2 trial.The lancet. Gastroenterology & hepatology · 2025Trial
- Article
- AI-driven ablative margin assessment after HCC radiofrequency ablation: a case-control feasibility study.European radiology experimental · 2026Article
- BioDeformUNet: A Deep Learning Model for Biomechanically Informed Liver Image Registration.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Can a Free Open-Source Software Platform Serve as Minimal Ablation Confirmation Assessment Software in Real-Life Practice?Cardiovascular and interventional radiology · 2026Article
- Taiwan Academy of Tumor Ablation (TATA) consensus on hepatocellular carcinoma ablation.Hepatology international · 2026Article
- Effectiveness of Real-Time CT/MRI-US Fusion Imaging in Thermal Ablation of Ultrasonographically Inconspicuous Hepatocellular Carcinoma.Cardiovascular and interventional radiology · 2026Article
- Ablation Confirmation Software in Thermal Ablation of Liver Tumours: A Scoping Review of Contemporary Applications and Clinical Usability.Cardiovascular and interventional radiology · 2026Review
- Gallbladder decompression and hydrodissection as adjuncts for ablation of pericholecystic hepatocellular carcinomas.Radiology case reports · 2026Article
- The influence of AI on surgical and ablative treatments for colorectal liver metastases: a review of the current literature.Insights into imaging · 2025Review
- CT-guided Thermal Ablation of Liver Tumors Using Intraprocedural CT-CT Fusion for Applicator Position and Ablation Completeness Assessment: a Single-Center Comparative Analysis.Cardiovascular and interventional radiology · 2025Article
- Review
- Prospective Registry Study on Thermal Liver Ablation of Primary and Secondary Liver Tumours Named the A-IMAGIO Study.Cardiovascular and interventional radiology · 2025Article
- Metronomic photodynamic therapy for deep organ cancer by implantable wireless OLEDs.APL bioengineering · 2025Article
- Quantitative Ablation Confirmation Methods in Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Malignant Liver Tumors: Technical Insights, Clinical Evidence, and Future Outlook.Radiology. Imaging cancer · 2025Review
- Transmission-Based Monitoring of Dual-Applicator Microwave Ablation Discriminates Discontiguous from Contiguous Ablation Zones in an In Vivo Porcine Liver Model.Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR · 2025Article
- Efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma at specific anatomic sites of the liver: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in surgery · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo assess the minimal ablative margin (MAM) by image fusion of intraprocedural pre- and post-ablation contrast-enhanced CT images and to evaluate if it can predict local tumor progression (LTP) independently. Furthermore, to determine a MAM with which a stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA) can be determined successful and therefore used as an intraprocedural tool to evaluate treatment success.
methodsA total of 110 patients (20 women, 90 men; mean age 63.7 ± 10.2) with 176 hepatocellular carcinomas were assessed by retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. The MAM was determined through image fusion of intraprocedural pre- and post-ablation images using commercially available rigid imaging registration software. LTP was assessed in contrast-enhanced CTs or MR scans at 3-6-month intervals.
resultsThe MAM was the only significant independent predictor of LTP (p = 0.036). For each millimeter increase of the MAM, a 30% reduction of the relative risk for LTP was found (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.98, p = 0.036). No LTP was detected in lesions with a MAM > 5 mm. The overall LTP rate was 9 of 110 (8.2%) on a patient level and 10 of 173 (5.7%) on a lesion level. The median MAM was 3.4 (1.7-6.9) mm. The mean overall follow-up period was 26.0 ± 10.3 months.
conclusionsAn immediate assessment of the minimal ablative margin (MAM) can be used as an intraprocedural tool to evaluate the treatment success in patients treated with stereotactic RFA. A MAM > 5 mm has to be achieved to consider an ablation as successful. KEY POINTS: • An intraoperatively measured minimal ablative margin (MAM) > 5 mm correlates with complete remission. • MAM is the only significant independent predictor of LTP (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-0.98, p = 0.036) after stereotactic RFA of hepatocellular carcinoma. • Image fusion using commercially available rigid imaging registration software is possible, even though considerably complex. Therefore, improved (semi-)automatic fusion software is highly desirable.
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