Clinical efficacy analysis and safety evaluation of ultrasonographically guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in liver cancers

OBJECTIVE : To assess the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation in treating liver cancers. The indications, contraindications and side-effects of the technique were also evaluated. METHODS : One hundred and fifty-four patients with liver cancers were treated between May 1999 and July 2000. One hundred and thirty-two cases were hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 22 cases were metastatic liver cancers. The diameter of the cancers ranged from 1.5 to 19.0 cm, with a mean diameter of 7.07 cm. All patients were treated with RF2000TM RF under ultrasonographic guidance and the results and side effects were evaluated. RESULTS : One hundred and fifty-four patients were treated 182 times, with the average number of treatments for each patient being 1.18 and the average number of therapeutic points was 5.74. Symptoms improved after therapy and the levels of α-fetoprotein (AFP) dropped from 1553.68 to 883.70 ng/mL. The AFP level declined in 60.8% of patients, remained unchanged in 32.7% of patients and was elevated in 6.5% of patients. After RF ablation, the size of the tumor was reduced in 87 cases (56.6%), stabilized in 52 cases (33.7%) and enlarged in 15 cases (9.7%). The common side-effects of RF were local pain, fever and leukocytosis; no life-threatening complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS : Percutanous RF ablation of liver cancers is a simple, safe, effective method. It can be curative for small liver cancers but for large liver cancers multiple treatments combined with arterial chemoembolization therapy may be needed to enhance its effectiveness.