Comparison of percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation and surgical resection for small hepatocellular carcinoma

Hiroki Nishikawa,Haruhiko Takeda,Sumio Saito,Jun Nakajima,Keiichi Hatamaru,Toru Kimura,Ryuichi Kita,Azusa Sakamoto,Tadashi Inuzuka,Tetsuro Ishikawa,Fumihiro Matsuda,Yukio Osaki,Akihiro Nasu,Shinichiro Henmi,Akira Arimoto

doi:10.1186/1471-230x-11-143

Hiroki Nishikawa, Haruhiko Takeda + Show 13 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230x-11-143

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Journal: BMC gastroenterology	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2011
Citations: 98	License type: CC BY 2.0

Affiliation: Osaka Red Cross Hospital

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this investigation was to compare the outcome of percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation therapy (PRFA) with surgical resection (SR) in the treatment of single and small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study on 231 treatment naive patients with a single HCC ≤ 3 cm who had received either curative PRFA (162 patients) or curative SR (69 patients). All patients were regularly followed up after treatment at our department with blood and radiologic tests.ResultsThe 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates after PRFA and SR were 95.4%, 79.6% and 63.1%, respectively in the PRFA group and 100%, 81.4% and 74.6%, respectively in the SR group. The corresponding recurrence free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years after PRFA and SR were 82.0%, 38.3% and 18.0%, respectively in the PRFA group and 86.0%, 47.2% and 26.0%, respectively in the SR group. In terms of overall survival and recurrence free survival, there were no significant differences between these two groups. In comparison of PRFA group patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) (n = 127) and SR group patients with LC (n = 50) and in comparison of PRFA group patients without LC (n = 35) and SR group patients without LC (n = 19), there were also no significant differences between two groups in terms of overall survival and recurrence free survival. In the multivariate analysis of the risk factors contributing to overall survival, serum albumin level was the sole significant factor. In the multivariate analysis of the risk factors contributing to recurrence free survival, presence of LC was the sole significant factor. The rate of serious adverse events in the SR group was significantly higher than that in the PRFA group (P = 0.023). Hospitalization length in the SR group was significantly longer than in the PRFA group (P = 0.013).ConclusionsPRFA is as effective as SR in the treatment of single and small HCC, and is less invasive than SR. Therefore, PRFA could be a first choice for the treatment of single and small HCC.

Highlights

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the outcome of percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation therapy (PRFA) with surgical resection (SR) in the treatment of single and small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Data are expressed as the number of patients or the mean ± standard deviation
In terms of overall survival (P = 0.259) and recurrence free survival (P = 0.324), there were no significant differences between these two groups

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the outcome of percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation therapy (PRFA) with surgical resection (SR) in the treatment of single and small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major health problem worldwide, with an estimated incidence ranging between 500,000 and 1,000,000 new cases annually. It is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the third most common cause of cancer-related death [1]. The. Currently, local ablative therapy competes with surgical resection and liver transplantation as primary treatment for small HCC. Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (PRFA), a recently developed local ablative technique, has attracted the greatest interest and popularity because of its efficacy and safety [4].

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