Validation

After the therapy endpoint has been reached (based either on pre established protocols or on measurements performed during the procedure) some validation of the treatment effect is made. Basically this step is performed in order to compare the initially targeted volume and the lesion actually created by the ablation. Unfortunately, imaging modalities used to assess the destroyed volume are often unreliable when performed immediately after the procedure due to other physiological changes around the treated volume (hemorrhage, edema...). Validation is therefore usually delayed up to three months after treatment.

Treatment validation with CT (left) or MR (center: before RFA, right: after RFA)