Radiofrequency ablation of a hepatic neoplasm in a patient with an abdominal pacemaker

Abstract

We present the case of a 52 year-old male with a history of C-hepatitis and two liver neoplastic lesions treated by radiofrequency (RF) ablation. The patient wears an abdominally-implanted unipolar VVI pacemaker that did not show any signs of interference during RF pulses. We describe the procedure performed and discuss the present knowledge regarding the possibilities of RF interference with the normal pacemaker functioning in several settings related to abdominal RF treatments.