Martin G. Mack MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Katrin Eichler MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ralf Straub MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Lehnert MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Zangos MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Josef Vogl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To analyze of the potential of MR-guided laser induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) for the treatment of liver metastases of breast cancer.

279 consecutive patients (average age of 54.8 years, range 23 to 80 years) were treated. 671 metastases were ablated. Survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. 7.7% of the patients had recurrent metastases after surgery, 46.2% metastases in both liver lobes, 25.6% refused surgical resection, 2.2% had contraindications for surgery and 18.3% had metastases at difficult localization for surgery. 41.8% of the metastases were smaller or equal to 2 cm, 33.9 were between 2 and 3 cm, 13.8% were between 3 and 4 cm and 10.4% were larger than 4 cm with a mean of 4.7 cm

All lesions with a maximum diameter of 5 cm could be treated with safety margin of 5-10 mm around the lesion. Also lesions with relationship to the liver capsule, the gall bladder and major vessels were treatable. In patients treated with LITT for liver metastases of breast cancer. The mean survival was 4.5 years (95% CI 3.9 –5.1 years, median 3.4 years) after the first LITT treatment and 5.0 years (95% CI 4.5-5.5 years, median 4.5 years) after the diagnosis of the metastases, which was treated with LITT. The 1 year survival rate was 86%, the 2 year survival rate was 68%, the 3 year survival rate was 54%, and the 5 year survival was 36%. after the first LITT treatment

A certain number of patients with liver metastases of breast cancer have benefits from local tumor ablation. MR-guided LITT means a safe and effective treatment protocol for liver metastases of breast cancer with improved survival data.

Mack, M, Eichler, K, Straub, R, Lehnert, T, Zangos, S, Vogl, T, Long-term Results of Laser Ablation of Liver Metastases of Breast Cancer.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4411676.html