Experimental study of diode-laser induced thermocoagulation on hepatic tissue with scanner fiber tip.

Aim: To explore a safe, efficient, and cost-effective technique for local thermo-ablation of hepatic tumors.

Methods: The livers of 16 healthy rabbits were thermocoagulated by diode-laser with a hand-made scanner fiber tip, 6 w for 10 min. At the same time, the temperature was measured at 5 and 10 mm from the laser tip. Liver function 7 days post-thermocoagulation was compared to pre-thermocoagulation. Pathological changes were also studied 1 month after laser thermocoagulation.

Results: All the rabbits lived and the temperature of hepatic tissues at 0 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm from laser tip reached 96.39+/-3.97 degrees, 60.79+/-6.21 degrees, 46.10+/-4.58 degrees, respectively after 10 min thermocoagulation. There was no significant change in liver function. The hepatic thermocoagulated necrosis and the surrounding fibrosis was 26.0 mm in diameter. Light microscopy observation revealed no surviving cells in the coagulated area.

Conclusion: Hepatic tissue can be locally ablated safely and effectively by diode-laser with scanner fiber tip, and this technique may be a new method to treat hepatic tumors.