Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

We examined the case of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (L-RFA) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and then the method of this treatment was considered in terms of selection and adjustment. Between January 2008 and May 2010, L-RFC was performed on 18 cases (27 tumors). A total operation time was 203 minutes (± 85.5). The median survival time was 562 days (± 197 day). The amount of blood was 21.0 g (± 68.4), and 3 postoperative complications (pleural effusion) were observed. The average length of hospital stay after the operation was 8 days. There was no vestigial remnant in all cases after the operation. The prognosis of death due to a liver failure was one case on the 516th day after the operation. All other 17 cases were survived. If the tumors were identified by the naked eye and ultrasonography, and considering the position in relation to the main vas, the ablation would be possible for the troublesome part in case of the percutaneous approach. Therefore, we thought the application of RFA to HCC would be more expandable.     

Stepwise hook extension technique for radiofrequency ablation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: Our study was designed to examine the efficacy of stepwise hook extension technique for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma in a randomized controlled study. METHOD: Twenty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma measuring <25 mm were divided randomly into two equal groups. RFA was applied using our new stepwise hook extension technique in patients of group 1, and the full extension method in group 2. The 10-hook electrode of LeVeen needle was deployed in four steps to full extension during ablation in group 1, and full extension at start of treatment in group 2. RESULTS: Roll-off was achieved in all 10 patients of group 1, indicative of sufficient tumor coagulation, but only in 3 of 10 patients of group 2. The median time to completion of treatment was 6 min and 55 s (range 3 min to 14 min and 3 s) and 15 min (6-15 min), respectively. The total power output used for RF was lower in group 1 than in group 2 (median 271 vs. 1,045 W.m). The diameters of RFA-induced lesions were not significantly different between the groups (group 1: 27, range 23-37 mm; group 2: 23, 0-42 mm). CONCLUSIONS: Application of RFA using stepwise hook extension technique is superior to the full extension method since it produces the same therapeutic effects within a short period using a lower energy.     

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus radiofrequency ablation therapy for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND:

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is becoming a well‐known local therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is expected to enhance the effects of subsequent RFA by reducing arterial blood flow. However, the long‐term efficacy of this combined therapy has not been elucidated. In this study, the survival rates of patients who received TACE combined with RFA (TACE + RFA) were compared with those of patients treated surgically.

METHODS:

The study included consecutive patients who received TACE + RFA or surgical resection as the initial curative treatment for HCC between 2000 and 2005 at Tokai University Hospital. Inclusion criteria were a single HCC ≤50 mm or up to 3 HCCs ≤30 mm, presence of cirrhosis classified as Child‐Pugh class A, no vascular invasion, and no extrahepatic metastasis.

RESULTS:

Sixty‐two patients (23 women, 39 men; aged 67.5 ± 8.4 years [mean ± standard deviation]) received TACE + RFA, and 55 patients (15 women, 40 men; aged 66.1 ± 8.4 years) underwent surgical resection. Median follow‐up periods were similar (50 months in the TACE + RFA group vs 49 months in the resection group). The probabilities of overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years in the TACE + RFA group (100%, 94.8%, and 64.6%, respectively) were similar (P = .788) to those in the resection group (92.5%, 82.7%, and 76.9%, respectively). Two major RFA‐related complications were observed (1.5%).

CONCLUSIONS:

RFA combined with TACE is an efficient and safe treatment that provides overall survival rates similar to those achieved with surgical resection. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

The validity of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA) has now become the mainstream percutaneous local treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RFA is superior to both percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) because of the large coagulation area obtained by a single session of RF ablation. In addition, the local recurrence rate after RFA is lower than that after PEI. Recently, to improve tumor ablation efficacy, several devices have been reported. We also designed RFA with balloon occlusion of the hepatic artery (balloon-occluded RFA, BoRFA). The coagulation area obtained by BoRFA was significantly larger than that obtained by standard RFA. In Japan, the results for RFA remain insufficient because of the short follow-up periods after treatments. Within a few years, we expect to clarify the indications for RFA treatment for HCC and the choice between RFA and other local treatments.     

肝癌射频消融研究进展

对于早期小肝癌,射频消融(RFA)的效果堪与手术相媲美,而优于无水酒精注射和介入栓塞化疗;对于伴肝硬化的肝癌患者,RFA为一种安全有效的治疗选择.RFA如何与其他治疗方法联合以提高疗效仍有待于进一步研究.     

经皮肝穿刺射频热凝对复发性肝癌的治疗意义

目的 探讨对于无再次手术指征的复发性肝癌行B超引导经皮肝穿刺射频热凝(PRFA)治疗的意义。方法 1999年10月～2001年7月经病理证实为原发性肝癌，术后影像学和血清肿瘤标记物证实为肝癌复发的47患者进行B超引导PRFA治疗。复发瘤灶为单发者24例、多发者23例，其中复发灶为单发且小于3．5cm者12例。定期随访，复查AFP、肝功能和B超，1个月后复查MRI或CT了解肿瘤坏死情况，以后每3个月复查。Kaplan—Meier法计算累积生存率。结果 复发灶为单发者1、2、3年的生存率分别为65.2％、37．5％、37．5％，复发灶为单发且小于3.5cm者1、2、3年的生存率分别为83.3％、51．4％、51．4％。复发灶为多发者1、2年的生存率为41．7％、19．5％。结论 B超引导经皮肝穿刺射频热凝是肝癌综合治疗中一种重要手段，对于无再次手术指征的复发性肝癌可以根据复发瘤灶的大小、范围、复发时间，决定单独或结合TACE给予B超引导经皮肝穿刺射频热凝(PRFA)治疗，可以更加有效地控制复发、提高生存率。     

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during occlusion of hepatic blood flow. Comparison with standard percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited by the small volume of coagulation necrosis obtained at each activation of the RF system and the sometimes irregular burn shape due to the proximity of large vessels that have a cooling effect. To improve the efficacy of RFA, the authors designed RFA with balloon occlusion of the hepatic artery (balloon-occluded RFA). In this study, we investigated the efficacy of balloon-occluded RFA and compared the coagulation diameters obtained with balloon-occluded RFA and standard RFA. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 31 patients with 42 HCC lesions measuring less than 4 cm in the greatest dimension. We performed balloon-occluded RFA for 12 patients (n = 15 nodules) and standard RFA for 19 patients (n = 27 nodules). Initial therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with dynamic computed tomography scan performed 2 weeks after one treatment. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the ablation conditions such as the frequency of a fully expanded electrode, the number of needle insertions, application cycles, or treatment times between the two groups. However, the greatest dimension of the area coagulated by balloon-occluded RFA was significantly larger (greatest long-axis dimension, 36.6 +/- 3.8 mm; greatest short-axis dimension, 30.1 +/- 6.0 mm; n = 15 lesions) than that coagulated by standard RFA (greatest long-axis dimension, 26.7 +/- 6.4 mm; greatest short-axis dimension, 23.1 +/- 5.0 mm; n = 27 lesions; greatest long-axis dimension, P < 0.001; greatest short-axis dimension, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Balloon-occluded RFA is superior to standard RFA for the treatment of many hepatocellular lesions, especially when larger volumes of coagulation are required.     

Combined transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are both efficacious in treating well-selected patients who have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The sequential combination of these two modalities has a sound theoretical basis and raises the probability of complete local response in tumors that are beyond the size at which the likelihood of failure with RFA alone begins to rise. Cheng et al. have found that when limited to patients with well-compensated liver disease, combined TACE and RFA does not seem to dramatically increase the risk of complications beyond the risk levels associated with the individual procedures. The survival benefit demonstrated in this recent article is, however, an artifact of a rigid study design that did not allow rational selection of treatment on the basis of individual patient and tumor characteristics. This study bolsters the evidence that the combination of TACE with RFA enhances local response, strengthening the status of nonsurgical treatment compared with resection for the treatment of early HCC.     

Combining transarterial chemoembolization with radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of combination of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with that of RFA alone in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All possible trials comparing RFA plus TACE with RFA alone for HCC were included into this meta-analysis. We estimated the summary odds ratio (OR) with its 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) to assess the effects. Nineteen eligible studies matched the selection criteria, including 1,728 patients. Meta-analysis showed that the combination of TACE and RFA (OR_1 year?=?2.14, 95 % CI?=?1.57–2.91, P?<?0.001; OR_3 years?=?1.98, 95 % CI?=?1.28–3.07, P?=?0.001; OR_5 years?=?2.70, 95 % CI?=?1.42–5.14, P?=?0.003) were associated with higher survival rates. No evidence of publication bias was observed. High-quality evidence suggests that TACE plus RFA improve the survival rates compared with RFA alone for patients with HCC.     

Microwave ablation is as effective as radiofrequency ablation for very-early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a first-line treatment for very-early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas the efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for very-early-stage HCC remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify this issue by comparing the safety and efficacy of percutaneous MWA with percutaneous RFA in treating very-early-stage HCC. Methods: Clinical data of 460 patients who were diagnosed with very-early-stage HCC and treated with percutane-ous MWA or RFA between January 2007 and July 2012 at the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, The Second Mili-tary Medical University, in Shanghai, China were retrospectively analyzed. Of these 460 patients, 159 received RFA, 301 received MWA. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), local tumor progression (LTP), complete ablation, and complication occurrence rates were compared between the two groups, and the prognostic factors associated with survival were analyzed. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the 1-, 3-, or 5-year OS rates (99.3%, 90.4%, and 78.3% for MWA vs. 98.7%, 86.8%, and 73.3% for RFA, respectively;P= 0.331). Furthermore, no signif-icant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the corresponding RFS rates (94.4%, 71.8%, and 46.9% for MWA vs. 89.9%, 67.3%, and 54.9% for RFA, respectively;P= 0.309), the LTP rates (9.6% vs. 10.1%,P= 0.883), the complete ablation rates (98.3% vs. 98.1%,P= 0.860), or the occurrence rates of major complications (0.7% vs. 0.6%,P= 0.691). By multivariate analysis, LTP, antiviral therapy, and treatment of recurrence were independent risk fac-tors for OS (P < 0.001), and the alpha-fetoprotein level was an independent prognostic factor for RFS (P= 0.002). Conclusions: MWA is as safe and effective as RFA in treating very-early-stage HCC, supporting MWA as a first-line treatment option for this disease.     

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma]

Percutaneous local treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma is minimally invasive. Moreover, since local radical cure may be possible, the procedure has become widely performed. Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) was recently introduced in Japan. Excellent results are expected. PRFA was conducted on 244 tumor nodules found in 177 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (a total of 349 procedures), and the usefulness was examined. 1. Tumor markers significantly decreased after PRFA and a favorable necrotic effect was obtained on CT images. 2. Mild post-operative inflammatory reaction and exacerbation of liver dysfunction was noted, but recovery was achieved in one week. There were no major complications. 3. The cumulative local recurrence in 1 year was 5.4%, which is lower than that with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy. 4. PRFA is a safe and handy procedure for hepatocellular carcinoma, which promises the favorable effect of coagulation necrosis. PRFA will likely become a key method among local ablation therapies.     

Percutaneous CT-guided radiofrequency ablation for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma pulmonary metastases

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma pulmonary metastases (HCCPM) and to identify the prognostic factors for survival.

Materials and methods: We reviewed the medical records of 320 patients with HCCPM treated between January 2005 and January 2012. Among them, 29 patients with 68 lesions of unresectable HCCPM underwent 56 RFA sessions. Safety, local efficacy, survival and prognostic factors were evaluated. Survival was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analyses were evaluated by the log-rank test.

Results: Pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement occurred in five (8.9%, 5/56) RFA sessions. During the median follow-up period of 23 months (range 6–70), 18 patients (62.1%, 18/29) died of tumour progression and 11 (37.9%, 11/29) were alive. The 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival rates were 73.4%, 41.1% and 30%, respectively. The median progression-free survival was 18 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.8–26.2) and the median overall survival time was 21 months (95%CI, 9.7–32.3). The maximum tumour diameter ≤3?cm (p?=?0.002), the number of pulmonary metastases ≤3 (p?=?0.014), serum AFP level ≤400?ng/mL (p?=?0.003), and the controlled status of intrahepatic tumour after lung RFA (p?=?0.001) were favourable prognostic factors for overall survival.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that percutaneous CT-guided RFA, as an alternative treatment procedure to pulmonary metastasectomy, can be a safe and effective therapeutic option for unresectable HCCPM.     

Early diagnosis of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma with 18F-FDG PET after radiofrequency ablation therapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) in the restaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This study was performed on 33 lesions in 24 patients with HCC. 18F-FDG PET and computed tomography (CT) studies were performed in all patients before treatment. PET acquisition was started 50-60 min after injection of 18F-FDG (5-6 MBq/kg). Semi-quantitative analysis using Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) was measured for the evaluation of tumour 18F-FDG uptake. All patients underwent RFA treatment and were followed up at least 2 years with 18F-FDG PET, CT and clinical evaluation in the interval of every 3 months in the first year and every 6 months in the second year. 18F-FDG PET detected recurrence earlier than CT between 4-6 months in 2 patients and between 7-9 months in 6 patients whereas CT was positive in 4 patients. Overall detection rate of recurrence with 18F-FDG PET was 92% which was higher than that of CT (75%). Statistically significant difference in the SUV was observed between well and moderately differentiated HCC (p=0.033) and also between well and poorly differentiated HCC (p=0.037). The size of tumours showed a significant correlation with the time of recurrence (p<0.00033, r=0.8601, n=12). The results of this study indicate that 18F-FDG PET could detect recurrence earlier in patients with HCC treated with RFA, as compared with CT and could diagnose extrahepatic lesions. SUV showed a significant correlation with time of recurrence after RFA. 18F-FDG PET may be a dominant imaging modality as a follow-up procedure of HCC after RFA, in terms of early detection of recurrence.     

经皮射频消融术治疗外科切除术后复发性肝细胞癌疗效分析

背景与目的：大部分复发性的肝癌结节的直径小于3 cm,且射频消融(radiofrequency ablation,RFA)治疗直径小于3 cm的肿瘤结节,其疗效已受到广泛认可。探讨RFA对手术切除术后复发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)的临床疗效与安全性。方法：回顾性分析61例手术切除后复发性HCC患者在经动脉化疗栓塞(transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,TACE)结合RFA的治疗下的1、3、5年总生存(overall survival,OS)率和无进展生存(progression-free survival,PFS)率,并发症发生率,死亡率,完全消融率以及影响患者生存率的独立风险因子。结果：完全消融率为93.4%(57/61),不完全消融率6.6%(4/61)。1、3、5年生存率分别为96.3%、77.9%和77.9%。1、3、5年PFS率分别为48.6%、20.3%和13.5%。消融术后出现主要并发症的患者1例,为肝包膜下出血;无消融治疗相关的死亡患者;消融后住院时间为4~7 d,中位值为5 d。影响OS的独立风险因子为患者HBsAg阳性(P=0.044,HR=7.496,95%CI：1.057~53.152)。结论：RFA治疗手术切除术后复发的HCC安全、有效,能够有效提高切除术后复发性HCC患者的生存率,对改善HCC患者的预后具有重要意义。     

Influencing factors for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a new local therapy, has recently been developed for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we have checked for the factors influencing the recurrence of HCC following RFA. We gave special emphasis to complete coagulation. The study population was comprised of 47 patients (80 tumors) with HCC with tumor size of <3 cm in maximal diameter. The patients were observed for a period of 2-3 years (average 865 days). The local recurrence rate was 19% at the end of 1 year, and 21% by the end of 2 years. The patients with local recurrence received significantly fewer RFA sessions (P<0.05) compared to patients with no recurrence. The frequencies of complete coagulation were significantly less (P<0.05) in patients with local recurrence than patients without local recurrence. The distant recurrence rate was 38% at 1 year, and 60% at 2 years. Patients with distant recurrence had significantly increased number of tumors (2.0+/-1.4) (P<0.05) compared to patients without distant recurrence (1.2+/-0.4). In conclusion, obtaining complete coagulation is an important factor to prevent local recurrence and the number of tumors predicted the distant recurrence in patients with HCC undergoing RFA.     

腹腔镜下肝癌切除术与射频消融术治疗肝细胞癌的疗效观察

目的探讨腹腔镜下肝癌切除术(LH)与射频消融术(RFA)治疗肝细胞癌(HCC)的临床疗效。方法选取2015年1月至2017年12月间成都三六三医院收治的76例HCC患者,根据不同手术方式分为LH组和RFA组,每组38例。LH组患者采用LH治疗,RFA组患者采用RFA治疗,比较两组患者临床疗效、术前术后肝功能、免疫功能变化、术后疼痛程度及并发症。结果 RFA组患者总生存率为84. 2%,LH组为86. 8%,RFA组无瘤生存率为63. 2%,LH组为57. 9%,差异均无统计学意义(P> 0. 05)。术后7d,两组患者AST、ALT和TBil水平均降低,且RFA组患者均低于LH组,差异均有统计学意义(均P <0. 05)。术后7d,两组患者CD3~+、CD4~+和CD8~+水平均降低,且RFA组患者均优于LH组,差异均有统计学意义(均P <0. 05)。RFA组患者术后VAS评分为(2. 15±0. 35)分,LH组为(3. 28±0. 42)分,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(t=12. 74,P=0. 00)。RFA组患者术后并发症发生率为7. 9%,LH组为15. 8%,差异无统计学意义(P> 0. 05)。结论RFA与LH治疗HCC临床效果相当,并发症少,但RFA在改善肝功能和提升机体免疫功能方面较LH更有优势,且术后疼痛较轻,值得推广。     

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy with combined angiography and computed tomography assistance for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported previously. This technique is superior to percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) for the enlargement of the necrotic area. Therefore, a few treatment sessions of RFA for patients with small HCC lesions measuring < 3 cm in greatest dimension can achieve complete necrosis. To achieve this with a one-treatment RFA session, the authors designed the technique of RFA with angiography combined with computed tomography (angio-CT) assistance. The advantages of this technique are that it is possible to detect small satellite nodules and to evaluate the real-time therapeutic effect immediately after RFA. METHODS: Ten patients with 12 HCC lesions measuring < 4 cm in greatest dimension underwent RFA with angio-CT assistance. The authors performed standard RFA for six patients (seven tumors) and RFA with balloon occlusion of the hepatic artery (balloon-occluded RFA [BoRFA]) for four patients (five tumors). Final therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with dynamic CT scans performed 2 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: On CT arteriography (CTA) obtained immediately after treatment, a hyperattenuating ring around the nonenhanced region was apparent in all patients. On CT scans obtained 2 weeks after treatment, this ring disappeared, and the greatest dimension of the nonenhanced region was slightly larger than that on the CTA obtained immediately after treatment. The authors achieved complete eradication with one treatment session of RFA in 8 of 10 patients (80%). Local recurrence occurred in one patient 10 months after treatment. The greatest dimension of the area coagulated by BoRFA was significantly larger (greatest long-axis dimension, 38.2 +/- 2.8 mm; greatest short-axis dimension, 35.0 +/- 1.7 mm; n = 5 lesions) than without it (greatest long-axis dimension, 30.0 +/- 4.1 mm; greatest short-axis dimension, 27.0 +/- 4.3 mm; n = 4 lesions; greatest long-axis dimension, P = 0.009; greatest short-axis dimension, P = 0.006). No major complications occurred in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: The authors were able to achieve success with a single treatment session in patients with small HCC using RFA with angio-CT assistance. They consider that RFA with angio-CT assistance is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of patients with small HCC.     

射频消融及125I粒子植入在预防肝癌切除术后局部复发的作用

目的探讨降低原发性肝癌切除术后局部复发的方法,提高肝癌患者的长期生存率。方法78例肿瘤靠近第一、第二肝门,估计切缘距肿瘤<1cm的肝癌患者,按就诊单双日分为单纯切除组和联合组。单纯切除组38例,仅行常规肝癌切除;联合组40例,在肝癌切除后,切缘行射频消融和~(125)I粒子植入。全部患者术后均定期随访。结果联合组术后1、3、5年肿瘤复发率分别为7.5%、30.0%和45.0%,术后1、3、5年生存率分别为92.5%、67.5%和30.0%,与单纯切除组比较,其中3、5年复发率差异有统计学意义((x~2=7.340,P<0.01;x~2=15.740,P<0.01);联合组的3、5年生存率较单纯切除组呈现明显升高的趋势。结论肝癌切除后切缘射频消融和~(125)I粒子植入能有效地降低术后局部复发率,提高治疗效果,且有可能延长肝癌患者的生存期。