Radiofrequency ablation of the liver: determination of ablative margin at MR imaging with impaired clearance of ferucarbotran--feasibility study.

Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. The feasibility of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with impaired clearance of ferucarbotran to visualize ablated liver parenchyma surrounding a tumor (ablative margin [AM]) was evaluated after radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the liver. Twenty-one patients with hepatocellular carcinomas underwent RF ablation 2-7 hours after ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging. On unenhanced T2*-weighted images acquired after 3-5 days, AMs appeared as hypointense rims. The AM status was related to incidence of residual or recurrent tumors. This technique is feasible for visualization of AM and prediction of residual or recurrent tumors after RF ablation of the liver.