Liver metastases treatment with alcohol or radiofrequency ablation of tumor nodes in MediClin Robert Janker Clinic

About the department

The Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the MediClin Robert Janker Clinic offers all modern diagnostic tests using ionizing radiation, imaging-guided tissue sampling procedures (biopsy) and minimally invasive therapeutic procedures. The patients can receive medical care both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. To achieve the optimal results, the department cooperates closely with specialists in the field of radiation therapy, oncology, neurology, neurosurgery and neuro-oncology, as well as urology, orthopedics, pain therapy and palliative care. Such collaboration helps to establish an accurate diagnosis and provide the most effective therapy. The Chief Physician of the department is PD Dr. med. Attila Kovács.

The doctors specializing in diagnostic radiology are responsible for the accurate and safe diagnostics using ionizing radiation systems. The key diagnostic options include magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, radiography and digital subtraction angiography for vascular imaging.  In addition, the department's experts provide all types of biopsies, including vacuum and punch biopsy. All tissue sampling procedures are performed under CT guidance (with the exception of a prostate biopsy). The prostate tissue is taken under the guidance of MRI. The department also conducts systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy sensitivity testing.

The department presents the widest range of imaging-guided interventional procedures. One of the most requested interventional treatment methods is transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). This is a local minimally invasive therapy used for the treatment of liver cancer and metastasis in the kidneys or thoracic wall. At the initial stages of liver cancer, a good result can also be achieved using ablation procedures. However, if the tumor has reached a fairly large size or spreaded metastasis, the patient will be prescribed transarterial chemoembolization. During the procedure, the arteries are embolized by small microspheres, which helps to stop the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tumor. The microspheres simultaneously direct high dose of a chemotherapeutic drug to the tumor and gradually release it. Such particles are the drug-coated granules. They allow the doctors to affect cancer cells more intensively. The department carries out two types of transarterial chemoembolization – selective for the tumor and selective for the segments of the organ. A tumor-selective type of therapy is carried out in the presence of a single metastasis in the liver, while segmental chemoembolization is performed in the case of multiple liver lesion. The advantage of this therapy is the targeted destruction of the tumor and metastasis, while maintaining healthy liver tissues.

The department's service range also includes radiofrequency ablation for the destruction of the tumor using heat. The variations of this technique are also thermal ablation and microwave ablation. However, radiofrequency ablation is the most common method of thermal tumor destruction. It is used for the treatment of malignant neoplasms and metastasis in the liver, lungs, kidneys and adrenal glands, retroperitoneal lymph nodes, bones and soft tissues. The procedure is carried out using sedation (anesthesia is not required). With CT guidance, a special probe is inserted into the body, which serves to increase the temperature of the tumor. The radiofrequency ablation allows the doctor to heat tumor cells to a temperature from 60 to 100 °C. Heat influences on the tumor until it is destroyed. The goal of radiofrequency ablation is to achieve the same result as in classical tumor removal. The best results using this technique can be achieved in tumors up to 4 cm in size or liver tumors up to 5 cm in size.

It is worth noting that the department's doctors also have excellent qualifications in kyphoplasty for the treatment of vertebral fractures (minimally invasive procedure). The kyphoplasty helps to relieve pain, and in many cases, it can completely eliminate the pain syndrome. During the procedure, the patient lies on his stomach. It lasts about 20 minutes and in most cases under general anesthesia. The essence of the therapeutic method is the introduction of a special cannula through the skin (at the level of the affected vertebra), which serves as a working channel for the introduction of the balloon. This balloon is filled with radiopaque liquid and is inflated under constant X-ray guidance. It has two functions, such as the alignment of the vertebra and the formation of a bed for the introduction of bone cement, which will help to restore the vertebra after the fracture. The kyphoplasty involves the use of a special biocement, which imitates real human bone tissue. The kyphoplasty has some risks (for example, damage to the nerve roots or the spinal cord itself), but the high professionalism of the department's doctors allows them to minimize these risks. To alleviate symptoms and strengthen the back muscles after therapeutic manipulation, additional drug therapy may be required.

The department specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the following diseases:

• Benign pathologies
  • Auditory nerve neuroma
  • Arteriovenous malformations
  • Systemic musculoskeletal pain syndromes
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Focal cortical hyperplasia 
  • Benign brain lesions
  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia
  • Benign uterine tumors
  • Varicocele
  • Testicular pain
  • Pituitary adenoma
  • Certain types of infertility
  • Focal liver formations
  • Meningiomas
  • Pathological vertebral fractures
  • Uterine fibroids
• Malignant pathologies
  • Bowel cancer
  • Liver cancer, including metastatic lesions
  • Kidney cancer, including metastatic lesions
  • Skin cancer, including metastatic lesions
  • Breast cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Soft tissue metastasis
• Other benign and malignant diseases

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Diagnostic radiology
  • Biopsy (aspiration, punch biopsy)
  • Systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy sensitivity testing
  • Computed tomography
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Radiography
  • Digital subtraction angiography
• Interventional radiology
  • Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)
  • Thermal ablation
  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • Microwave ablation
  • Cryoablation
  • Electrochemotherapy
  • Prostatic artery embolization
  • Uterine artery embolization
  • Kyphoplasty
• Other diagnostic and therapeutic options