Review
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Oct 27, 2014; 6(10): 704-715
Published online Oct 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i10.704
Laser ablation for small hepatocellular carcinoma: State of the art and future perspectives
Giovan Giuseppe Di Costanzo, Giampiero Francica, Claudio Maurizio Pacella
Giovan Giuseppe Di Costanzo, Liver Unit, Antonio Cardarelli Hospital, 80131 Naples, Italy
Giampiero Francica, Interventional Ultrasound Unit, Pineta Grande Hospital, 81030 Castelvolturno, Italy
Claudio Maurizio Pacella, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, 00041 Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this work.
Correspondence to: Giovan Giuseppe Di Costanzo, MD, Liver Unit, Antonio Cardarelli Hospital, Via A Cardarelli 9, 80131 Naples, Italy. ggdicostanzo@libero.it
Telephone: +39-081-7472335 Fax: +39-081-7472317
Received: December 2, 2013
Revised: June 17, 2014
Accepted: June 29, 2014
Published online: October 27, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: The aim of this review is to describe the basic principles, results in terms of safety and efficacy, and recent advancements in laser ablation (LA). This mini-invasive technique is a less known and few employed procedure as compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, according to published studies LA is as safe and effective as RFA. In the review the technique and potential advantages of LA are described. Our ambition is to provide the hepatologists, and other physicians, with an updated approach to this ablative technique.