Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for elderly hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Four hundred and sixty‐one patients with naïve HCC, including 107 elderly (aged ≥75 years) patients, who were treated with RFA between 2000 and 2007, were enrolled. Baseline characteristics, survival/recurrence rates and complications after RFA were compared between elderly and non‐elderly patients. Results: In the elderly group, the proportion of men, alcohol consumption, serum alanine aminotransferase and γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase levels were significantly lower compared with those in the non‐elderly group. There were no differences in Child–Pugh grade and tumor characteristics between the two groups. The cumulative survival rates in the elderly group were 82% at 3 years and 61% at 5 years, which was equivalent to the non‐elderly group. Similarly, no differences were observed in recurrence rates. In multivariate analysis, Child–Pugh grade and tumor‐related factors were significant factors associated with survival, but age was not. Although elderly patients had more extrahepatic comorbidities, their presence was not a factor associated with survival prognosis or complication after RFA. Conclusion: RFA treatment might be safe and effective in elderly patients, as well as non‐elderly patients, with HCC.