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At least 361 records · Page 20

Cholecystokinin-Assisted Hydrodissection of the Gallbladder Fossa during FDG PET/CT-guided Liver Ablation

A 68-year-old female with colorectal cancer developed a metachronous isolated fluorodeoxyglucose-avid (FDG-avid) segment 5/6 gallbladder fossa hepatic lesion and was referred for percutaneous ablation. Pre-procedure computed tomography (CT) images demonstrated a distended gallbladder abutting the segment 5/6 hepatic metastasis. In order to perform ablation with clear margins and avoid direct puncture and aspiration of the gallbladder, cholecystokinin was administered intravenously to stimulate gallbladder contraction before hydrodissection. Subsequently, the lesion was ablated successfully with sufficient margins, of greater than 1.0 cm, using microwave with ultrasound and FDG PET/CT guidance. The patient tolerated the procedure very well and was discharged home the next day.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Treatment of Metastatic Lymph Nodes in the Neck from Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Percutaneous Laser Ablation

PurposeTo assess the effectiveness of percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) of cervical lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma.Materials and Methods24 patients (62.3 ± 13.2 year; range 32–80) previously treated with thyroidectomy, neck dissection, and radioiodine ablation underwent ultrasound-guided PLA of 46 {sup 18}FDG-PET/CT—positive metachronous nodal metastases. All patients were at high surgical risk or refused surgery and were unsuitable for additional radioiodine ablation. A 300 µm quartz fiber and a continuous-wave Nd-YAG laser operating at 1.064 mm were used. Technical success, rate of complications, rate of serological conversion, and local control at follow-up were derived. Fisher’s exact test and Mann–Whitney U test were used and Kaplan–Meier curve calculated.ResultsTechnical success was obtained in all 46 lymph nodes (100 %). There were no major complications. Thyroglobulin levels decreased from 8.40 ± 9.25 ng/ml before treatment to 2.73 ± 4.0 ng/ml after treatment (p = 0.011), with serological conversion in 11/24 (45.8 %) patients. Overall, local control was obtained in 40/46 (86.9 %) lymph nodes over 30 ± 11 month follow-up, with no residual disease seen at imaging in 19/24 (79.1 %) patients. Local control was achieved in 40/46 (86.9 %) lymph nodes at 1 year and in all of the 25 nodes (100 %) followed for 3 years. Estimated mean time to progression was 38.6 ± 2.7 m.ConclusionUltrasound-guided PLA is a feasible, safe, and effective therapy for the treatment of cervical lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Stereotactic Radiofrequency Ablation for Metastatic Melanoma to the Liver

PurposeTo evaluate the outcome of patients with melanoma liver metastasis treated with stereotactic radiofrequency ablation (SRFA).Material and MethodFollowing IRB approval, a retrospective evaluation of the treatment of 20 patients with 75 melanoma liver metastases was performed.ResultsA median number of 2 lesions (range 1–14) per patient with a median size of 1.7 cm (range 0.5–14.5 cm) were treated. 67 lesions were <3 cm (89.3 %) and 8 lesions were >3 cm (10.7 %). Per patient a median of 1 ablation session was performed (range: 1–4) totaling 34 sessions. There were no procedure-related deaths and all major complications (n = 3) could be easily treated by pleural drainages. The primary and secondary success rates were 89.3 and 93.3 %, respectively. The overall local recurrence rate was 13.3 %. Four of ten local recurrences were re-treated successfully by SRFA. During follow-up, 9/20 patients developed extrahepatic metastatic disease and 10/20 had liver recurrence at any location. The median OS from the date of SRFA was 19.3 months, with an OS of 64, 41, and 17 % at 1, 3, and 5 years, with no significant difference for patients with cutaneous and ocular melanoma. The median DFS after SRFA for all 20 patients was 9.5 months, with 37, 9, and 0 % at 1, 3, and 5 years.ConclusionsDue to the high local curative potential and the promising long-term survival rates associated with minimal morbidity and mortality, radiofrequency ablation seems to be an attractive alternative to resection in patients with melanoma liver metastases.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Image-Guided Spinal Ablation: A Review

The image-guided thermal ablation procedures can be used to treat a variety of benign and malignant spinal tumours. Small size osteoid osteoma can be treated with laser or radiofrequency. Larger tumours (osteoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst and metastasis) can be addressed with radiofrequency or cryoablation. Results on the literature of spinal microwave ablation are scarce, and thus it should be used with caution. A distinct advantage of cryoablation is the ability to monitor the ice-ball by intermittent CT or MRI. The different thermal insulation, temperature and electrophysiological monitoring techniques should be applied. Cautious pre-procedural planning and intermittent intra-procedural monitoring of the ablation zone can help reduce neural complications. Tumour histology, patient clinical-functional status and life-expectancy should define the most efficient and least disabling treatment option.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

RF Ablation of Giant Hemangiomas Inducing Acute Renal Failure: A Report of Two Cases

ObjectiveIn patients that require treatment for hepatic giant cavernous hemangiomas (GCH), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been suggested to represent a safe and effective alternative to invasive surgery. In a recent report of bipolar RFA, using two expandable needle electrodes, was uneventfully performed in patients with large GCH (>10 cm). The objective of this report is to present two cases in which bipolar RFA of symptomatic GCH was complicated by acute kidney injury.Materials and methodsIn 2015 we treated two patients for very large symptomatic GCH (15.7 and 25.0 cm) with bipolar RFA during open laparotomy.ResultsIn both patients the urine showed a red–brown discoloration directly after the ablation. They became anuric and presented with progressive dyspnea, tachypnea, and tachycardia, requiring hemodialysis for a period of 1 month in one case. Lab results revealed hemepigment-induced acute kidney. Both patients fully recovered and both showed a complete relief of symptoms at 3 months following the procedure.ConclusionRFA for large GCHs can cause hemepigment-induced acute kidney injury due to massive intravascular hemolysis. The presented cases suggest that caution is warranted and advocate an upper limit regarding the volume of GCHs that can be safely ablated.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Radiographic Local Tumor Control and Pain Palliation of Sarcoma Metastases within the Musculoskeletal System with Percutaneous Thermal Ablation

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation in achieving local tumor control and pain palliation of sarcoma metastases within the musculoskeletal system.Materials and MethodsRetrospective review of 64 sarcoma metastases within the musculoskeletal system in 26 women and 15 men (total = 41) treated with ablation between December 2011 and August 2016 was performed. Mean age of the cohort was 42.9 years ± 16.0 years. Two subgroups were treated: oligometastatic disease (n = 13) and widely metastatic disease (n = 51). A variety of sarcoma histologies were treated with average tumor volume of 42.5 cm{sup 3} (range 0.1–484.7 cm{sup 3}). Pain scores were recorded before and 4 weeks after therapy for 59% (38/64) of treated lesions. Follow-up imaging was evaluated for local control and to monitor sites of untreated disease as an internal control. Fifty-eight percent (37/64) were lost to imaging follow-up at varying time points over a year. Complication rate was 5% (3/64; one minor and two major events).ResultsOne-year local tumor control rates were 70% (19/27) in all patients, 67% (12/18) in the setting of progression of untreated metastases, and 100% (10/10) in the setting of oligometastatic disease. Median pain scores decreased from 8 (interquartile range 5.0–9.0) to 3 (interquartile range 0.1–4.0) 1 month after the procedure (P < 0.001).ConclusionImage-guided percutaneous ablation is an effective option for local tumor control and pain palliation of metastatic sarcomas within the musculoskeletal system. Treatment in the setting of oligometastatic disease offers potential for remission. Level of Evidence: Level 4, Retrospective Review.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Fusion Imaging and Virtual Navigation to Guide Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review of the Literature

As medical imaging advancements have improved the detectability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in early stages, the approach to percutaneous thermal ablation for curative treatment has concomitantly advanced. Although many centers are adopting cross-sectional imaging to guide percutaneous ablation, the majority of procedures are still performed under ultrasound (US) guidance worldwide. Challenges to ultrasound guidance may present due to relatively poor resolution particularly with small or isoechoic lesions, or due to intervening structures such as the bowel or diaphragm that obstruct lesional visualization. Fusion imaging (FI) systems have been employed to address these challenges. By merging or synchronizing the real-time images from US with a previously obtained cross-sectional study, FI mitigates the inherent limitations of each individual imaging modality and expands procedural feasibility and technical outcomes. This manuscript reviews the current literature on the use of FI during percutaneous thermal ablation of HCC.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Microwave Ablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma of the Transplanted Kidney: Two Cases

Thermal ablative techniques have been increasingly recognized as a valuable alternative to graftectomy and nephron-sparing surgery for the treatment of small neoplasms arising in the transplanted kidney. However, long-term efficacy and safety data are still lacking. In particular, current experience with microwave ablation is limited to a very recent single-centre series of three cases. We herein report two microwave ablations of renal cell carcinoma of the kidney allograft. The procedures were successfully performed under ultrasound guidance with complete tumour necrosis, no peri-operative complications, and preserved renal function. No recurrences were observed after 3 years of follow-up.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Percutaneous Laser Ablation of Liver Metastases from Neuroendocrine Neoplasm. A Retrospective Study for Safety and Effectiveness

Purpose: To retrospectively assess safety and efficacy of laser ablation (LA) of multiple liver metastases (LM) from neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN). Methods: Twenty-one patients with NEN and at least 3 LM ≤ 4 cm in diameter underwent ultrasonography-guided LA. Up to seven LM were ablated in a single session; if the number of LM exceeded seven, the remaining LM were ablated in further LA sessions with a time interval of 3–4 weeks. LA was performed according to the multifiber technique. The patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT 1 month after LA, and were subsequently monitored every 3 months for the first 2 years and then every 6 months. Results: In total, 189 LM were treated in 21 patients (mean 9 ± 8.2, median 6) in 41 LA sessions (range 1–5). The diameter of LM ranged from 5 to 35 mm (median 19 mm, mean 17.9 ± 6.4 mm). One grade 4 complication occurred (0.53%): a bowel perforation managed by surgery. Technical efficacy was 100%, primary efficacy rate 94.7%, and secondary efficacy rate 100%. Complete relief of hormone-related symptoms was obtained in all the 13 symptomatic patients. Median follow-up was 39 months (range 12–99). 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 95%, 86%, 66%, and 40%, respectively. Overall survival resulted higher for patients with Ki-67 expression ≤ 7% than for those with Ki-67 > 7% (p = 0.0347). Conclusions: LA is a promising and safe technique to treat LM from NEN. A longer follow-up should provide definitive information on the long-term efficacy of this liver-directed therapy. Level of Evidence: Retrospective study, local non-random sample, level 3.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Influence of the Solvent on the Structure and Morphology of Nanoparticles Fabricated by Laser Ablation of Bulk Magnesium Targets

Ultrafine powders and colloid solutions of nanoparticles are fabricated by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation (a Nd:YAG laser, 1064 nm, 7 ns, 150 mJ, and 20 Hz) of metallic magnesium targets in water and organic solvents of different polarities (ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane). The morphology, dimensional characteristics, composition, and structure of the particles are studied by the methods of transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy depending on the solvent used. For the first time it has been demonstrated that nanostructures of magnesium oxyhydroxide Mg{sub 5}O(OH){sub 8} are formed during the ablation in water. It is established that in organic solvents, formation of hexagonal and cubic magnesium oxides is possible. Nanoparticles fabricated by the ablation in less thermostable solvents – ethyl acetate and hexane – contain carbonates.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Infrared Laser Ablation with Vacuum Capture for Fingermark Sampling

Infrared laser ablation coupled to vacuum capture was employed to collect material from fingermarks deposited on surfaces of different porosity and roughness. Laser ablation at 3 μm was performed in reflection mode with subsequent capture of the ejecta with a filter connected to vacuum. Ablation and capture of standards from fingermarks was demonstrated on glass, plastic, aluminum, and cardboard surfaces. Using matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), it was possible to detect caffeine after spiking with amounts as low as 1 ng. MALDI detection of condom lubricants and detection of antibacterial peptides from an antiseptic cream was demonstrated. Detection of explosives from fingermarks left on plastic surfaces as well as from direct deposition on the same surface using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was shown. .

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

The TriBeam system: Femtosecond laser ablation in situ SEM

Femtosecond laser ablation offers the unique ability to remove material at rates that are orders of magnitude faster than existing ion beam technologies with little or no associated damage. By combining ultrafast lasers with state-of-the-art electron microscopy equipment, we have developed a TriBeam system capable of targeted, in-situ tomography providing chemical, structural, and topographical information in three dimensions of near mm{sup 3} sized volumes. The origins, development, physics, current uses, and future potential for the TriBeam system are described in this tutorial review. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • An emerging tool, the TriBeam, for in situ femtosecond (fs) laser ablation is presented. • Fs laser ablation aided tomography at the mm{sup 3}-scale is demonstrated. • Fs laser induced deposition of Pt is demonstrated at sub-diffraction limit resolution. • Fs laser surface structuring is reviewed as well as micromachining applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Laser ablation of sub-10 nm silver nanoparticles

Laser ablation of silver nanoparticles (NPs) was studied with laser post-ionization (LPI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF MS). Silver NPs containing ~15 000 Ag atoms (4 nm radius) were deposited by soft landing (energy 3 eV/atom) onto indium tin oxide (ITO)/glass substrates. Laser ablation was performed using frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation at three different wavelengths (371, 401, and 421 nm), whereas for post-ionization, pulses from an F 2 laser were used. Laser fluences and time delay dependencies of Ag and In signals were obtained. Using these data, the temperature of the desorption source as well as its time duration were calculated. It was found that the peak temperature of NPs was above their melting point and they cooled down slowly, with temperature decay time of several hundreds of nanoseconds. This anomalous behavior was explained based on a model where the semiconducting ITO substrate is initially transparent to the desorption laser radiation but starts to adsorb it due to the temperature increase arising from heat exchange with NPs. Poor heat conduction in the ITO film creates conditions for long-lived hot spots on the surface and initiates further optical damage of the substrate. No difference in the ablation process due to plasmon resonance was detected, likely due to thermal expansion and melting of NPs during laser irradiation, which then broadens the plasmon absorption band enough to cover all wavelengths used. Here, these results clearly demonstrate that the process of NP interaction with laser radiation is governed not only by initial optical and thermophysical parameters of NPs and the surrounding media, but also by their alteration due to temperature increases during the irradiation process.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Dynamics of Molecular Emission Features from Nanosecond, Femtosecond Laser and Filament Ablation Plasmas

The evolutionary paths of molecular species and nanoparticles in laser ablation plumes are not well understood due to the complexity of numerous physical processes that occur simultaneously in a transient laser-plasma system. It is well known that the emission features of ions, atoms, molecules and nanoparticles in a laser ablation plume strongly depend on the laser irradiation conditions. In this letter we report the temporal emission features of AlO molecules in plasmas generated using a nanosecond laser, a femtosecond laser and filaments generated from a femtosecond laser. Our results show that, at a fixed laser energy, the persistence of AlO is found to be highest and lowest in ns and filament laser plasmas respectively while molecular species are formed at early times for both ultrashort pulse (fs and filament) generated plasmas. Analysis of the AlO emission band features show that the vibrational temperature of AlO decays rapidly in filament assisted laser ablation plumes.

Laser ablation (LA)↗

Nanoscale patterning of graphene through femtosecond laser ablation

We report on nanometer-scale patterning of single layer graphene on SiO{sub 2}/Si substrate through femtosecond laser ablation. The pulse fluence is adjusted around the single-pulse ablation threshold of graphene. It is shown that, even though both SiO{sub 2} and Si have more absorption in the linear regime compared to graphene, the substrate can be kept intact during the process. This is achieved by scanning the sample under laser illumination at speeds yielding a few numbers of overlapping pulses at a certain point, thereby effectively shielding the substrate. By adjusting laser fluence and translation speed, 400 nm wide ablation channels could be achieved over 100 μm length. Raster scanning of the sample yields well-ordered periodic structures, provided that sufficient gap is left between channels. Nanoscale patterning of graphene without substrate damage is verified with Scanning Electron Microscope and Raman studies.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Formation of diatomic molecular radicals in reactive nitrogen-carbon plasma generated by electron cyclotron resonance discharge and pulsed laser ablation

The reactive nitrogen-carbon plasma generated by electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) microwave discharge of N{sub 2} gas and pulsed laser ablation of a graphite target was characterized spectroscopically by time-integrated and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy with space resolution for a study of gas-phase reactions and molecular radical formation in the plasma. The plasma exhibits very high reactivity compared with the plasma generated solely by ECR discharge or by pulsed laser ablation and contains highly excited species originally present in the ambient gaseous environment and directly ablated from the target as well as formed as the products of gas-phase reactions occurring in the plasma. The space distribution and the time evolution of the plasma emission give an access to the gas-phase reactions for the formation of C{sub 2} and CN radicals, revealing that C{sub 2} radicals are formed mainly in the region near the target while CN radicals can be formed in a much larger region not only in the vicinity of the target, but especially in the region near a substrate far away from the target.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Ultrashort laser ablation of bulk copper targets: Dynamics and size distribution of the generated nanoparticles

We address the role of laser pulse fluence on expansion dynamics and size distribution of the nanoparticles produced by irradiating a metallic target with an ultrashort laser pulse in a vacuum, an issue for which contrasting indications are present in the literature. To this end, we have carried out a combined theoretical and experimental analysis of laser ablation of a bulk copper target with ≈50 fs, 800 nm pulses, in an interval of laser fluencies going from few to several times the ablation threshold. On one side, molecular dynamics simulations, with two-temperature model, describe the decomposition of the material through the analysis of the evolution of thermodynamic trajectories in the material phase diagram, and allow estimating the size distribution of the generated nano-aggregates. On the other side, atomic force microscopy of less than one layer nanoparticles deposits on witness plates, and fast imaging of the nanoparticles broadband optical emission provide the corresponding experimental characterization. Both experimental and numerical findings agree on a size distribution characterized by a significant fraction (≈90%) of small nanoparticles, and a residual part (≈10%) spanning over a rather large size interval, evidencing a weak dependence of the nanoparticles sizes on the laser pulse fluence. Numerical and experimental findings show a good degree of consistency, thus suggesting that modeling can realistically support the search for experimental methods leading to an improved control over the generation of nanoparticles by ultrashort laser ablation.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Imaging the ultrafast Kerr effect, free carrier generation, relaxation and ablation dynamics of Lithium Niobate irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses

The interaction of high-power single 130 femtosecond (fs) laser pulses with the surface of Lithium Niobate is experimentally investigated in this work. The use of fs-resolution time-resolved microscopy allows us to separately observe the instantaneous optical Kerr effect induced by the pulse and the generation of a free electron plasma. The maximum electron density is reached 550 fs after the peak of the Kerr effect, confirming the presence of a delayed carrier generation mechanism. We have also observed the appearance of transient Newton rings during the ablation process, related to optical interference of the probe beam reflected at the front and back surface of the ablating layer. Finally, we have analyzed the dynamics of the photorefractive effect on a much longer time scale by measuring the evolution of the transmittance of the irradiated area for different fluences below the ablation threshold.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗