Biological effects of intrahepatic neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser photocoagulation in rats.

The effects of low-power neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser light delivered intrahepatically in normal rats have been studied. Power settings of 0.5-2.0 W and exposures of 50-2400 s produced well-defined, highly reproducible necrotic lesions of up to 16 mm in diameter. The diameter of the necrotic lesions depended upon both the power setting and total energy delivered. Histologic examination showed coagulative necrosis that healed by granulation with a small residual fibrous nodule by 60 days. Microthermocouples embedded within the liver indicated temperatures of up to 100 degrees C close to the fiber tip for the higher power settings, and temperatures at the periphery of the necrotic zones were consistent with tissue damage by a purely thermal effect. Radiologic examination of photocoagulated lobes of liver in which arterial tree had been filled with a radiopaque polymer demonstrated loss of all small and some large vessels in the treated area. The technique could be used to induce necrosis of intrahepatic and other tumors.