Hepatic radiofrequency ablation

HYPOTHESIS: Hepatic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective in treating patients with unresectable hepatic malignancies. DESIGN: Case series of 123 patients with unresectable hepatic tumors or tumors with histological findings not traditionally treated by means of hepatic resection were considered for hepatic RFA. Median follow-up was 20 months. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: The 123 patents underwent 168 RFA sessions from January 1, 1998, through September 30, 2001. Sixty-nine patients were male and 54, female; average age was 65 years (range, 1-89 years). Fifty-two patients had metastatic colorectal cancer; 30, hepatocellular carcinoma; and 41, cancers with other histological findings. INTERVENTIONS: A 200-W, cooled-tip RF probe system was used for all cases. Probe placement and ablation were monitored by means of real-time ultrasonography or fluoroscopic computed tomography. Final tissue temperature of greater than 50 degrees C was achieved in all cases. RESULTS: Initial treatment sessions were percutaneous in 87 patients, open operations in 33, and laparoscopic in 3. Repeated sessions were percutaneous in all but 2 patients. The mean number of lesions treated per session was 2.7 (range, 1-24). Mean tumor size was 5.2 cm (range, 0.5-15.0 cm). One death occurred within 30 days of a procedure. No hepatic bleeds, bile leaks, or adult respiratory distress syndrome occurred. Overall morbidity was 7.1%. Complications included hepatic abscesses in 4 patients, transient liver insufficiency in 3, segmental hepatic infarcts in 2, diaphragm paralysis in 1, hepatic artery-to-portal vein fistula in 1, and systemic hemolysis in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic RFA is an effective treatment option for patients with unresectable hepatic malignancies. Careful patient selection based on tumor size, location, and number and on patient clinical status should determine the choice of treatment. Further controlled trials are needed to determine the effect of hepatic RFA on long-term survival.     

Radio-frequency ablation of large, nonresectable hepatic tumors

Patients with nonresectable hepatic metastases who are not treated survive an average of 6 months. We report our experience with radio-frequency ablation (RFA) of nonresectable hepatic tumors 4 cm or greater in size. A retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing RFA of hepatic tumors 4 cm or greater from October 1, 1999, through August 31, 2002, was performed. Thirty-six patients were identified who underwent RFA of tumors 4 cm or greater. There were a total of 81 tumors ablated in the 36 patients. Twenty patients underwent RFA only; seven patients received RFA plus a wedge resection. Five patients were treated with RFA followed by chemoembolization. Two patients underwent RFA plus placement of a hepatic artery infusion pump. The median tumor size was 5 cm (range, 4-14 cm). Median patient follow-up was 26 months (range, 1-54 months). Patients with metastatic colon cancer had the longest median survival of 28 months (range, 1 and 48 months). The survival of primary hepatocellular carcinoma was worse with a median survival of 20 months (range, 1-36 months). At last follow-up, 11 (30%) of the patients remain alive and disease free. There were no perioperative deaths and one intraoperative complication. In our experience, RFA of larger tumors is effective and safe. Tumor size should not be an absolute contraindication to RFA of nonresectable hepatic tumors.     

Long-term survival after radiofrequency ablation of complex unresectable liver tumors

HYPOTHESIS: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may improve survival of high-risk patients with unresectable and refractory tumors. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a prospective database. SETTING: A tertiary referral cancer center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 1, 1997, and January 31, 2005, we performed 219 RFA procedures to ablate 521 hepatic tumors in 181 patients. RESULTS: Of the 181 patients, 52% were male and 48% were female, and the mean age was 61.3 years (age range, 27-91 years). Radiofrequency ablation was performed via celiotomy (n = 135), via laparoscopy (n = 48), or percutaneously (n = 36). In 106 patients (79%), RFA was used in combination with surgical resection. The most common tumors included colorectal cancer (40.9%), hepatocellular carcinoma (14.9%), carcinoid tumor (13.8%), melanoma (9.4%), and breast cancer (5.0%). The average number of tumors per patient was 3.3 tumors. The average number of RFA-treated lesions per procedure was 2.38 lesions; the mean lesion size was 3.56 cm (lesion size range, 0.8-9.0 cm). At a mean follow-up of 33.2 months (follow-up range, 12-91 months), overall survival was 48.3 months for carcinoid tumors, 25.2 months for hepatocellular carcinoma, 18.5 months for melanoma, 29.7 months for colorectal cancer, and 30.1 months for breast cancer. Seventy-eight patients (43%) developed recurrences. Of 521 tumors that were treated, 125 (24%) recurred; the incidence of local recurrence was 28% for tumors larger than 3 cm vs 18% for tumors 3 cm or smaller (P = .04). Twenty-nine patients underwent serial ablations. Seventy-one patients (39%) were disease free at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients whose hepatic malignancies are unresectable or refractory to chemotherapy may be considered for RFA as part of a multimodality therapeutic regimen. In these patients, RFA is safe and may prolong survival.     

Open Surgical is Superior to Percutaneous Access for Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatic Metastases

Purpose  This study was designed to determine the best approach to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the liver. Methods  From a total of 41 procedures, 37 patients with 47 tumors were treated with RFA for metastatic disease. Indications included colorectal cancer (n = 28, 68%), neuroendocrine tumors (n = 2, 5%), gynecological primaries (n = 4, 10%), pancreatic/duodenal cancer (n = 2, 5%), and miscellaneous entities (n = 5, 12%). Mean follow-up period was 18 (median, 18) months. All ways of approach to RFA were applied: percutaneous was chosen in 17 (41.5%), laparoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic in 5 (12.2%), and open surgical in 19 cases (46.3%), and in 10 cases, RFA was combined with hepatic resection. The average maximum tumor size was 2.3 (range, 0.8–6) cm, and the mean number of nodules treated per patient in a single session was 1.3 (range, 1–3). Results  Overall survival was 59.5% at 2 years, recurrence-free 2-year survival was 12.6%, local tumor recurrence rate was 34%, and overall recurrence was 75.6%. Local tumor recurrence and disease-free survival were significantly improved in the open surgically treated patients compared with the percutaneous treatment group (15.8% [n = 3] vs. 58.8% [n = 10] and 11.5 vs. 7.9 months, p < 0.01 [χ² test] and p < 0.05 [log-rank test], respectively). Conclusions  Open surgical approach is superior to percutaneous access for RFA in metastatic hepatic disease.     

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with or without radiofrequency ablation in the management of patients with advanced hepatic malignancy

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is efficacious against hepatic malignancies by rendering tumors ischemic while delivering high-dose chemotherapy. The added benefit of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has not been determined. We sought to review our experience with TACE with or without RFA in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal liver metastases in patients not amenable to resection. TACE and RFA were undertaken in 13 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 7) or colorectal liver metastases (n = 6). Concurrently 24 patients underwent TACE alone for hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 15) or colorectal liver metastases (n = 9). Patients undergoing TACE with or without RFA were similar in age, gender, and diagnosis. Overall follow-up was 9.1 months +/- 7.1. One-year survival was greater in patients undergoing TACE with RFA than with TACE alone (100% vs 67%, P = 0.04). Mean survival was longer after TACE with RFA compared with TACE alone (25.3 months +/- 15.9 vs 11.4 months +/- 7.3, P < 0.05). No patients suffered significant complications. The addition of RFA to TACE improves survival in patients with unresectable primary or metastatic hepatic malignancies. RFA with TACE should be in the armamentarium of surgeons caring for patients with malignant liver lesions.     

Radiofrequency Ablation of Malignant Liver Tumors

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is being used to treat primary and metastatic liver tumors. The indications, treatment planning, and limitations of hepatic RFA must be defined and refined by surgeons treating hepatic malignancies.Methods: A review of the experience using RFA to treat unresectable primary and secondary hepatic malignancies at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, and the G. Pascale National Cancer Institute in Naples, Italy, is provided. Patient selection, treatment approach, local recurrence rates, and overall cancer recurrence rates following RFA are described. The current literature on RFA of hepatic malignancies is reviewed.Results: RFA of hepatic tumors can be performed percutaneously, laparoscopically, or during an open surgical procedure. Incomplete treatment manifest as local recurrence is more common with a percutaneous approach. The morbidity and mortality rates associated with hepatic RFA are low. Local recurrence rates are low if meticulous treatment planning is performed. RFA can be combined safely with partial hepatic resection of large lesions. The long-term survival rates following RFA of primary and metastatic liver tumors have not yet been established.Conclusions: RFA of hepatic malignancies is a safe and promising technique to produce coagulative necrosis of unresectable hepatic malignancies. Experience with this treatment modality is not yet mature enough to establish long-term outcomes.     

多电极射频消融治疗大肝癌的近期疗效评价

目的 探讨射频消融（RFA）治疗大肝癌的近期疗效。方法 对13例大肝癌病人行开腹手术、腹腔镜下、B超引导下经皮肝穿刺定位射频消融治疗。术前诊断检查指标包括B超、增强CT、AFP、经皮肝穿刺活检。13例中有19个肝占位病变,单发病灶9例,2-3个病灶的4例,肿瘤直径6.0-15.0cm,原发性肝癌10例,转移性肝癌3例。结果　RFA治疗大肝癌近期疗效满意,症状明显改善,食欲明显增加,生活质量良好,肝功、AFP明显好转;术后1月彩超、增强CT复查全部肿瘤体内血供消失,瘤体缩小;3月后CT显示瘤体大片坏死、液化。13例中无手术死亡,存活时间3-12个月,其中1例术后3月死于上消化道出血。结论 RFA给不宜手术的大肝癌患者又增加了一种安全、打击小、痛苦小、生活质量好的治疗方法和延长生命的机会。     

肝癌射频消融技术及疗效评价方法

目的 总结肝癌射频消融(RFA)的临床经验并探讨评价RFA疗效的方法 .方法 对49例肝癌病人进行了统一方案的RFA治疗,其中男43例,女6例;年龄39～72岁,平均(56.4±9.3)岁.肿瘤直径1.5～10 cm,其中≤3 cm 16例,3.1～5 cm 15例,>5 cm 18例.按肝功能Child-Pugh分级,A级41例,B级8例.病理诊断为肝细胞癌44例,胆管细胞性肝癌5例.采用RITA射频消融肿瘤治疗系统(RF-1500)行RFA.在RFA后3～4周常规行CT及TACE,以评价肝癌RFA的效果及巩固疗效.结果 全部病例RFA术后恢复顺利,总体1、2、3年生存率为77.5%、56.5%和44.0%,肝癌RFA后3～4周,AFP阳性(≥25μg/L)者转阴率62.9%(22/35).改进的肝癌RFA方法 可对直径5 cm以下的肿瘤进行比较彻底的消融,≤5 cm者1、2、3年生存率为100%、79.6%和61.9%.将肝癌消融近期疗效分为3个级别,RFA术后获得根治性消融(19例)、亚根治消融(9例)、姑息性消融(21例)者2年生存率分别为85.7%、60.0%和24.3%.结论 肝癌RFA相当于从机能上切除了肿瘤,肝癌消融近期疗效三级分类法可以比较客观地评价RFA的效果,以指导辅助治疗的选择.     

Comparative study of resection and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of solitary colorectal liver metastases

Background

We compared outcomes in patients with solitary colorectal liver metastases treated by either hepatic resection (HR) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods

A retrospective analysis from a prospective database was performed on 67 consecutive patients with solitary colorectal liver metastases treated by either HR or RFA.

Results

Forty-two patients underwent HR and 25 patients underwent RFA. The 5-year overall and local recurrence-free survival rates after HR (50.1% and 89.7%, respectively) were higher than after RFA (25.5% and 69.7%, respectively) (P = .0263 and .028, respectively). In small tumors less than 3 cm (n = 38), the 5-year survival rates between HR and RFA were similar, including overall (56.1% vs 55.4%, P = .451) and local recurrence-free (95.7% vs 85.6%, P = .304) survival rates. On multivariate analysis, tumor size, metastases treatment, and primary node status were significant prognostic factors.

Conclusions

HR had better outcomes than RFA for recurrence and survival after treatment of solitary colorectal liver metastases. However, in tumors smaller than 3 cm, RFA can be recommended as an alternative treatment to patients who are not candidates for surgery because the liver metastases is poorly located anatomically, the functional hepatic reserve after a resection would be insufficient, the patient's comorbidity inhibits a major surgery, or extrahepatic metastases are present.     

Factors Influencing the Local Failure Rate of Radiofrequency Ablation of Colorectal Liver Metastases

Background The prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer is poor, especially when there is distant metastatic disease. Local ablation of tumor by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a safe and effective new treatment modality, but its long-term efficacy may be hindered by renewed local tumor growth at the site of RFA. The objectives of this study were to identify risk factors for local RFA failure and to define exclusion criteria for RFA treatment of colorectal liver metastases. Methods A total of 199 lesions in 87 patients were ablated with RFA. Factors influencing local failure rates were identified and compared with data from the literature. Results The local failure rate was 47.2%, and the average time to local disease progression was 6.5 months. Factors that significantly correlated with increased failure rates were metachronous occurrence of liver metastases, large mean lesion size, and central tumor location. Conclusions Because accurate electrode placement is pivotal in achieving adequate tumor necrosis, RFA should not be performed percutaneously when electrode placement is impaired. We suggest that lesions >5 cm and lesions located near great vessels or adjacent organs should be treated with open RFA, thus allowing vascular inflow occlusion and complete mobilization of the liver. Lesions that are difficult to reach by electrodes should be approached by an open procedure.     

Radiofrequency ablation: a novel primary and adjunctive ablative technique for hepatic malignancies.

The majority of primary and metastatic tumors of the liver are not amenable to surgical resection at presentation. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new modality for local tumor destruction with minimal local and systemic complications. We prospectively reviewed the experience with RFA at a single institute as a primary or adjunctive ablative technique in the treatment of hepatic malignancies. Between November 1997 and December 1998, 30 patients with primary or metastatic hepatic lesions were treated with RFA at the John Wayne Cancer Institute and the Cancer Center at Century City Hospital. Pathology of the treated lesions included colorectal metastases (29 in 14 patients), neuroendocrine metastases (29 in 4 patients), noncolorectal metastases (29 in 9 patients), and hepatocellular carcinoma (6 in 3 patients). Twelve patients underwent RFA laparoscopically, 12 at celiotomy, and the remaining 6 patients had percutaneous ablation. RFA was the only procedure in 17 patients, whereas the remainder underwent a combination of RFA and other procedures including resection, cryosurgical ablation, and hepatic artery infusion pump placement. Median length of stay for all patients was 6 days (2 days for laparoscopic patients). A single complication of a delayed intrahepatic abscess was noted in this series (3%). There have been no deaths associated with RFA. At a median follow-up of 5 months, 16 patients remain disease free, and 10 are alive with disease. RFA is a safe and effective method of tumor ablation for hepatic malignancies. This technique can be performed laparoscopically, at celiotomy, or percutaneously and can be used as a primary technique or in conjunction with other interventional procedures.     

Surgical resection versus percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhotic liver

OBJECTIVE: We sought to compare the experience of 2 different surgical units in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on cirrhosis with resection or percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA), respectively. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: When allowed by the hepatic functional reserve, surgery is the therapy for HCC on cirrhosis; alternative treatments are proposed because of the high tumor recurrence rate after resection. RFA is being widely adopted to treat HCC. METHODS: Over a 4-year period, 79 cirrhotics with HCC underwent resection in 1 surgical unit (group A) and another 79 had RFA at a different unit (group B). Patient selection, operative mortality, hospital stay, and 1- and 3-year overall and disease-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Group A (surgery): mean follow-up was 28.9 +/- 17.9 months; operative mortality was 3.8%, mean hospital stay 9 days; 1- and 3-year survival were, respectively, 83 and 65%. One- and 3-year disease-free survival were 79 and 50%. Group B (RFA): mean follow-up was 15.6 +/- 11.7 months. Mean hospital stay was 1 day (range 1-8). One- and 3-year survival were 78 and 33%; 1- and 3-year disease-free survival were 60 and 20%. Overall and disease-free survival were significantly higher in group A (P = 0.002 and 0.001). The advantage of surgery was more evident for Child-Pugh class A patients and for single tumors of more than 3 cm in diameter. Results were similar in 2 groups for Child-Pugh class B patients CONCLUSIONS: RFA has still to be confirmed as an alternative to surgery for potentially-resectable HCCs.     

Complex hepatic surgery aided by a 1.5-tesla moveable magnetic resonance imaging system

BACKGROUND: Resection represents the best treatment for potentially curable liver tumors; radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an alternative. The curative potential of RFA may be hampered because the extent of burn is difficult to estimate by ultrasound. We postulated that intraoperative MRI (iMRI) would enable a more accurate assessment of ablation completeness. METHODS: We performed open hepatic surgery in an operating room equipped with a unique, retractable 1.5-T magnet. Patients were selected because it was anticipated that RFA (with or instead of resection) was likelihood and that iMRI might be helpful in making intraoperative decisions. After baseline MRI, lesions were further assessed by ultrasound at the time of open surgery. Lesions were resected and/or ablated, and further imaging confirmed the margins of the procedure. RESULTS: Nine patients underwent the procedure: 1 with metastatic carcinoid, 4 with hepatocellular carcinoma, and 4 with colorectal liver metastases. In 4 patients, iMRI had an effect on decision-making. In 5 individuals, there were nonlocal recurrences, and 1 patient who was never disease-free had a local recurrence. COMMENTS: Intraoperative MRI could potentially impact operative decision-making when ablating extensive disease. Its ability to prevent local recurrences must be determined. Moreover, the role of this technology in the overall treatment armamentarium must be defined.     

Solitary colorectal liver metastasis: resection determines outcome

BACKGROUND: Hepatic resection (HR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have been proposed as equivalent treatments for colorectal liver metastasis. HYPOTHESIS: Recurrence patterns after HR and RFA for solitary liver metastasis are similar. DESIGN: Analysis of a prospective database at a tertiary care center with systematic review of follow-up imaging in all of the patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with solitary liver metastasis as the first site of metastasis treated for cure by HR or RFA were studied (patients received no prior liver-directed therapy). Prognostic factors, recurrence patterns, and survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 180 patients who were studied, 150 underwent HR and 30 underwent RFA. Radiofrequency ablation was used when resection would leave an inadequate liver remnant (20 patients) or comorbidity precluded safe HR (10 patients). Tumor size and treatment determined recurrence and survival. The local recurrence (LR) rate was markedly lower after HR (5%) than after RFA (37%) (P<.001). Treatment by HR was associated with longer 5-year survival rates than RFA, including LR-free (92% vs 60%, respectively; P<.001), disease-free (50% vs 0%, respectively; P = .001), and overall (71% vs 27%, respectively; P<.001) survival rates. In the subset with tumors 3 cm or larger (n = 79), LR occurred more frequently following RFA (31%) than after HR (3%) (P = .001), with a 5-year LR-free survival rate of 66% after RFA vs 97% after HR (P<.001). Patients with small tumors experienced longer 5-year overall survival rates after HR (72%) as compared with RFA (18%) (P = .006). CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate following HR of solitary colorectal liver metastasis exceeds 70% at 5 years. Radiofrequency ablation for solitary metastasis is associated with a markedly higher LR rate and shorter recurrence-free and overall survival rates compared with HR, even when small lesions (< or = 3 cm) are considered. Every method should be considered to achieve resection of solitary colorectal liver metastasis, including referral to a specialty center, extended hepatectomy, and chemotherapy.     

肝癌射频消融后常规行经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞的临床分析

目的:探讨肝癌射频消融（RFA）联合经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞（TACE）的疗效及必要性。方法:对65例肝癌患者RFA后进行1次以上的TACE治疗。其中男54例，女11例。肿瘤最大长径1.5～10.0 cm，其中≤3 cm者14例， 3.1～5.0 cm者17例，＞5.0 cm者34例。按肝功能Child pugh分级，A级51例，B级14例。病理诊断肝细胞癌58例，胆管细胞性肝癌7例。采用RFA肿瘤治疗系统行RFA，并随后常规行CT以评价RFA的疗效，然后行TACE,术后1月行CT检查，以评价肿瘤消融情况，并观察生存率，以评价治疗效果。结果:RFA后完全消融24例，基本消融15例，部分消融26例。RFA+TACE的近期效果为根治性22例、亚根治性13例和姑息性30例。肿瘤消融程度与近期疗效密切相关(r=0.877，P＜0.001)。肝癌RFA+TACE治疗后总体1，2，3年生存率为78.2%，65.3%，44.0%。Cox回归模型分析显示消融程度，是最终与生存时间有关的因素，获得完全消融、基本消融或部分消融者3年生存率分别为73.5%，45.0%和0.0%。肿瘤较小的肝癌容易获得完全消融、近期及远期疗效较好；反之预后较差。结论:TACE对RFA后残余的癌灶或微小转移病灶可起治疗作用；中大肝癌RFA后联合TACE是必要的。     

原发性肝癌射频消融后综合征的临床观察

目的研究原发性肝癌（HCC）经皮射频消融术（RFA）后出现消融后综合征的发生率，分析其发生的原因。方法2002年7月至2006年4月，37例HCC采用经皮RFA技术进行治疗。治疗前后分别行实验室及影像学检查。观察治疗后出现的各种临床症状及持续时间。结果37例均顺利完成RFA治疗。32．4％（12／37）病人出现消融后迟发性症状。其中发热12例、寒战1例、全身不适7例、消融部位疼痛9例、恶心5例、呕吐2例、呃逆2例。治疗后3d症状最明显，均在对症处理后14d内消失。消融后症状的发生与肿瘤体积、消融区体积、射频治疗时间及血清转氨酶（AST、ALT）水平呈明显相关性（P〈0．01）。肿瘤体积〈50cm^3（直径4．5cm）共19例，均未发生消融后综合征；肿瘤体积〉50cm^3共18例，66．7％（12／18）病人发生消融后综合征。结论HCC经皮RFA治疗后，约1／3病人可发生消融后综合征，其发生率与病灶大小相关，对症处理后2周内可自行消失。     

Radiofrequency ablation of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer: are newer generation probes better?

Second-generation radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probes and their successors have more power, shorter ablation times, and an increased area of ablation compared with the first-generation probes used before 2000. We examined whether the use of the newer probes has improved the clinical outcome of RFA for hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer at our tertiary cancer center. Of 160 patients who underwent RFA between 1997 and 2003, 52 had metastases confined to the liver: 21 patients underwent 46 ablations with the first-generation probes and 31 patients underwent 58 ablations with the newer probes. The two groups had similar demographic characteristics. At a median follow-up of 26.2 months, patients treated with the newer probes had a longer median disease-free survival (16 months vs 8 months, P < 0.01) and a lower rate of margin recurrence (5.2% vs 17.4%); eight patients had no evidence of disease and one patient was alive with disease. By contrast, of the 46 patients treated with the first-generation probes, 2 patients had no evidence of disease and 1 patient was alive with disease. Newer-generation probes are associated with lower rates of margin recurrence and higher rates of disease-free survival after RFA of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.     

Outcome after hepatic resection versus combined resection and microwave ablation for multiple bilobar colorectal metastases to the liver

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy of microwave ablation plus hepatectomy for multiple bilobar colorectal metastases to the liver. No consensus exists concerning local ablation plus hepatic resection for treating multiple bilobar colorectal liver metastases, partly because of a lack of long-term comparative survival data. METHODS: Clinicopathologic data were analyzed retrospectively for 53 consecutive patients with 5 or more bilobar liver metastases from colorectal cancer who underwent hepatectomy with or without microwave ablation. Outcome measures were recurrence rate, recurrence pattern, and survival. RESULTS: Combined resection/ablation was performed more frequently in patients with more liver metastases (P = .03). No significant differences were found for overall, disease-free, or hepatic recurrence-free survival between 16 patients with resection/ablation and 37 patients with resection (P = .43, .54, and .86, respectively). Multivariate analysis selected prehepatectomy carcinoembryonic antigen concentration in serum as an independent prognosticator for survival (P = .02), but not resection/ablation versus resection. In patients with combined resection/ablation, recurrence occurred near the resection or ablation line in only 2 patient (22%), whereas multiple neoplasms (>/=4) was the most common liver recurrence pattern (78%). CONCLUSIONS: Microwave ablation plus hepatic resection expanded indications for operation to treat multiple bilobar liver metastases, with survival similar to that in less-involved hepatic resection patients.     

Long-term outcomes after hepatic resection combined with radiofrequency ablation for initially unresectable multiple and bilobar liver malignancies

Background

Hepatic resection (HRE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) offers a surgical option to a group of patients with multiple and bilobar liver malignancies who are traditionally unresectable for inadequate functional hepatic reserve. The aims of the present study were to assess the perioperative outcomes, recurrence, and long-term survival rates for patients treated with HRE plus RFA in the management of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastatic liver cancer (MLC).

Methods

Data from all consecutive patients with primary and secondary hepatic malignancies who were treated with HRE combined with RFA between 2007 and 2013 were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed.

Results

A total of 112 patients, with 368 hepatic tumors underwent HRE combined with ultrasound-guided RFA, were included in the present study. There were 40 cases of HCC with 117 tumors and 72 cases of MLC with 251 metastases. Most cases of liver metastases originated from the gastrointestinal tract (44, 61.1%). Other uncommon lesions included breast cancer (5, 6.9%), pancreatic cancer (3, 4.2%), lung cancer (4, 5.6%), cholangiocarcinoma (4, 5.6%), and so on. The ablation success rates were 93.3% for HCC and 96.7% for MLC. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-y overall recurrence rates were 52.5%, 59.5%, 72.3%, 75%, and 80% for the HCC group and 44.4%, 52.7%, 56.1%, 69.4%, and 77.8% for the MLC group, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-y overall survival rates for the HCC patients were 67.5%, 50%, 32.5%, 22.5%, and 12.5% and for the MLC patients were 66.5%, 55.5%, 50%, 30.5%, and 19.4%, respectively. The corresponding recurrence-free survival rates for the HCC patients were 52.5%, 35%, 22.5%, 15%, and 10% and for the MLC patients were 58.3%, 41.6%, 23.6%, 16.9%, and 12.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

HRE combined with RFA provides an effective treatment approach for patients with primary and secondary liver malignancies who are initially unsuitable for radical resection, with high local tumor control rates and promising survival data.     

"Dual-scopic" intraoperative radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of a hepatic metastatic tumor located beneath the diaphragm

Surgical resection leaving negative margins provides the only chance for a cure in hepatic metastasis of colorectal cancer. Tumor ablation techniques are known for their reliability and effectiveness in the treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic tumors. Among these treatment modalities, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is commonly used for local control of primary and metastatic hepatic tumors with acceptable complication rates. Although the percutaneous approach is the usual route for RFA application, both laparoscopic approach and laparotomy can also be used. Hepatic tumors, located immediately beneath the diaphragm (segment VIII), are not suitable for percutaneous RFA due to the risks of injuring the diaphragm, and poor visualization by ultrasonography. Herein, we present a case of hepatic metastatic tumor located immediately beneath the diaphragm successfully treated by "dual-scopic" approach. A 50-year-old female patient had previously undergone an extended right hemicolectomy for transverse colon cancer, and she visited our department for hepatic metastasis on the dome of liver. She successfully underwent percutaneous transthoracic transdiaphragmatic intraoperative RFA under the guidance of a combination of thoracoscopic and laparoscopic approaches.