Ablative zone size created by radiofrequency ablation with and without chemoembolization in small hepatocellular carcinomas

Purpose

We retrospectively evaluated whether combined use of chemoembolization expands ablative zone sizes created by radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients with small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Materials and methods

Fifty-seven patients treated with single RF ablation for solitary HCC measuring ??2?cm were assessed. RF ablation alone was done in nine patients and in 48 patients following chemoembolization, with an interval of 0?days in 6, 1?C14?days in 27, 15?C28?days in 6, and ??4?weeks in 9. Ablative zone sizes, disappearance of tumor enhancement, and creation of sufficient ablative margins (>5?mm) were evaluated on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) images.

Results

Both mean long-axis (4.2?C4.7 vs. 3.6?±?0.4?cm, p?p?p?Conclusion Ablative zones created by RF ablation with chemoembolization become larger than RF ablation alone, leading to secure ablative margins.