Use of a biplane transrectal ultrasound probe in hepatic cryosurgery: Technical note

Abstract

The success of hepatic cryosurgery is related to the visualization of the lesions and the monitoring of both the cryoprobe placement and the actual freezing procedures. This article describes the importance of a biplanar trans-rectal ultrasound probe in accomplishing these three things. After visualizing the liver with three different ultrasound probes (3.5 MHz convex, 5.0 MHz convex, and 5.0 linear array), the transrectal ultrasound probe is used. The two transducers in this probe provide a unique view of the liver. More importantly, the transrectal ultrasound probe provides the best imaging for placing the cryoprobes and monitoring the freezing process.

Key Words:

• transrectal ultrasound
• hepatic cryosurgery
• intra-operative ultrasound