Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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Local Ablation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 2024 Expert Consensus-Based Practical Recommendations of the Korean Liver Cancer Association

  • Seungchul Han (Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center) ;
  • Pil Soo Sung (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Soo Young Park (Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital) ;
  • Jin Woong Kim (Department of Radiology, Chosun University Hospital and Chosun University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hyun Pyo Hong (Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Jung-Hee Yoon (Department of Radiology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University, College of Medicine) ;
  • Dong Jin Chung (Department of Radiology, Yeouido St Mary's Hospital. The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Joon Ho Kwon (Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Sanghyeok Lim (Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital Bucheon, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jae Hyun Kim (Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University) ;
  • Seung Kak Shin (Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine) ;
  • Tae Hyung Kim (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital) ;
  • Dong Ho Lee (Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jong Young Choi (Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • Received : 2024.06.10
  • Accepted : 2024.06.15
  • Published : 2024.09.01
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Abstract

Local ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a non-surgical option that directly targets and destroys tumor cells, has advanced significantly since the 1990s. Therapies with different energy sources, such as radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, and cryoablation, employ different mechanisms to induce tumor necrosis. The precision, safety, and effectiveness of these therapies have increased with advances in guiding technologies and device improvements. Consequently, local ablation has become the first-line treatment for early-stage HCC. The lack of organized evidence and expert opinions regarding patient selection, pre-procedure preparation, procedural methods, swift post-treatment evaluation, and follow-up has resulted in clinicians following varied practices. Therefore, an expert consensus-based practical recommendation for local ablation was developed by a group of experts in radiology and hepatology from the Research Committee of the Korean Liver Cancer Association in collaboration with the Korean Society of Image-guided Tumor Ablation to provide useful information and guidance for performing local ablation and for the pre- and post-treatment management of patients.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the members of the advisory committee for this work. The members of the advisory committee were as follows: Dong Jin Chung (President of KSITA, Radiology, The Catholic University of Korea), Kyung Sik Kim (The Next President of KLCA, Surgery, Yonsei University), Jong Young Choi (President of KLCA, Hepatology, Hepatology, The Catholic University of Korea), Kwang Cheol Koh (Former President of KLCA, Hepatology, Sungkyunkwan University), Young Nyun Park (Former President of KLCA, Pathology, Yonsei University), Jin Wook Chung (Former President of KLCA, Radiology, Seoul National University), Seung Kew Yoon (Former President of KLCA, Hepatology, The Catholic University of Korea), Joong-Won Park (Former President of KLCA, Hepatology, Myongji Hospital), Jinsil Seong (Former President of KLCA, Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University), Kyung-Suk Suh (Former President of KLCA, Surgery, Seoul National University), Hyunchul Rhim (Former President of KLCA, Radiology, Sungkyunkwan University), Young Seok Kim (Vice President of KLCA, Hepatology, Soonchunhyang University), Jeong Won Jang (Secretary General of KLCA, Hepatology, The Catholic University of Korea), Eileen L Yoon (Insurance Director of KLCA, Hepatology, Hanyang University).

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