MR-guided ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma aided by gadoxetic acid.

Local recurrences are problematic following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma. Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) is a potentially useful tool for the assessment of the extent of the thermal injury produced by RFA. The use of gadoxetic acid disodium, a hepatocyte-specific contrast agent with prolonged retention, is described as a method of improved assessment of the ablative margins relative to the tumor margins. Copyright 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.