top of page

BackTable / VI / Podcast / Episode #378

Setting the Benchmark: Ablation Confirmation Software for Tumors

with Dr. Bruno Odisio, Dr. Constantinos Sofocleous and Dr. William Rilling

In this episode, Dr. Constantinos (Costi) Sofocleous, Dr. Bruno Odisio, and Dr. William Rilling discuss the history of percutaneous liver tumor ablation, takeaways from past and present clinical studies, and the contemporary role of ablation margin confirmation software for optimizing treatment outcomes.

This podcast is supported by:

Be part of the conversation. Put your sponsored messaging on this episode. Learn how.

Setting the Benchmark: Ablation Confirmation Software for Tumors with Dr. Bruno Odisio, Dr. Constantinos Sofocleous and Dr. William Rilling on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Ep 378 Setting the Benchmark: Ablation Confirmation Software for Tumors with Dr. Bruno Odisio, Dr. Constantinos Sofocleous and Dr. William Rilling
00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2023, October 25). Ep. 378 – Setting the Benchmark: Ablation Confirmation Software for Tumors [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

Stay Up To Date

Follow:

Subscribe:

Sign Up:

Podcast Contributors

Dr. Bruno Odisio discusses Setting the Benchmark: Ablation Confirmation Software for Tumors on the BackTable 378 Podcast

Dr. Bruno Odisio

Dr. Bruno Odisio is a professor at the department of interventional radiology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Constantinos Sofocleous discusses Setting the Benchmark: Ablation Confirmation Software for Tumors on the BackTable 378 Podcast

Dr. Constantinos Sofocleous

Dr. Constantinos (Costi) Sofocleous is a professor of interventional radiology at Weill Cornell Medical College and the board director of the Society of Interventional Oncology.

Dr. William Rilling discusses Setting the Benchmark: Ablation Confirmation Software for Tumors on the BackTable 378 Podcast

Dr. William Rilling

Dr. William Rilling is an interventional radiologist and a professor with Medical College of Wisconsin.

Synopsis

Costi initiates the discussion by highlighting crucial developments in tumor ablation over the last 15 years. He notes that it took time to realize that tumors larger than 3 cm carried higher rates of local failure, primarily due to insufficient margins. Research eventually found that establishing larger margins, preferably 10 mm margins, resulted in significantly lower recurrence rates. In fact, with these margins, ablation outcomes became even more favorable than surgical outcomes. This shift towards personalizing the approach to each tumor has been instrumental in improving patient outcomes.

The conversation then transitions to innovation within the realm of ablation. There are fewer prospective studies over ablation as a sole treatment, since ablation is often performed in conjunction with surgery. Additionally, the presence of numerous vendors for ablation technology makes it challenging to conduct comprehensive studies.

The doctors also discuss the importance of ablation margins and recurrence. 3D confirmation is correlated with greater control over the procedure. Local recurrence tends to occur in areas where the margin is suboptimal, but the exact standards for what constitutes "suboptimal" margins are yet to be established. Nevertheless, the consensus among experts is that a contrast CT on the day of the ablation and a subsequent 3D evaluation of the images are crucial. This evaluation should be repeated three weeks later to verify the success of the procedure. Costi mentions that at Memorial Sloan Kettering, ablation zone biopsy is an option if necessary, which adds another layer of verification.

The discussion also touches on the importance of using a guidance system for ablation. Bruno underlines the significance of always using CT to verify the procedure. He points out that colleagues in Europe have been using stereotactic guidance for many years, revealing that 40% of the time, the ablation application wasn't placed exactly where they thought it would be based on pre-scans. This is where stereotactic technology becomes invaluable. Costi suggests real-time PET as a beneficial tool, but the challenge lies in justifying these additional steps to payers. Minimum imaging requirements and margin confirmation software are essential components of a guidance system..

The episode culminates in a discussion of a significant trial that involves three different industry sponsors - a landmark effort in the field of oncology. The ACCLAIM trial, which began in 2016, sought to conduct a multicenter study but took four years to secure approval and funding. Costi highlights the reasons for its success, emphasizing the potential for reproducible outcomes that could establish ablation as a strong indication in colorectal cancer. The data suggests that margin confirmation software significantly improves margins, and he hopes that this information will lead to increased reimbursement for the use of these crucial software tools.

Resources

Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

backtable-plus-vi-cta.jpg
Become a BackTable Sponsor

Up Next

Musculoskeletal Tumor Embolizations with Dr. Gina Landinez on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Mastering Microwave Ablation in HCC Treatment with Dr. Zach Berman on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Navigation Software for IR Guidance with Dr. Merve Ozen on the BackTable VI Podcast)
How I Perform a Port Removal with Dr. Christopher Beck on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Microwave Ablation: A Powerful but Underused Modality for Treatment of Spine Tumors with Dr. Majid Khan on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Iliofemoral Stenting: Decision-Making & Best Practices Explored with Dr. Kush Desai and Dr. Steven Abramowitz on the BackTable VI Podcast)

Articles

Topics

Learn about Interventional Oncology on BackTable VI
Liver Ablation Procedure Prep
Liver Cancer Condition Overview
Microwave Ablation Procedure Prep

Get in touch!

We want to hear from you. Let us know if you’re interested in partnering with BackTable as a Podcast guest, a sponsor, or as a member of the BackTable Team.

Select which show(s) you would like to subscribe to:

Thanks! Message sent.

bottom of page