Effects of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and repeat hepatectomy for the treatment of solitary recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma with the diameter no more than 3 cm

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) and repeat hepatectomy for solitary recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the diameter≤3 cm. Methods The clinical data of 151 patients with recurrent HCC (diameter≤3 cm) who were admitted to the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 1999 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Of all the patients, 79received PRFA (PRFA group) and 72 received repeat hepatectomy (repeat hepatectomy group). The survival rate, morbidity and recurrence of the tumor between the two groups were compared. All data were analyzed using t test, chi-square test or Log-rank test, and the survival of the patients were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The mobidities of the PRFA group and repeat hepatectomy group were 13% (10/79) and 36%(26/72), respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (x2=11.411, P＜0.05). The cumulative 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-year survival rates were 89.7%, 75.2%, 67.1%, 61.5%, 56.6% in the PRFA group, and 86.0%, 67.6%, 53.6%, 44.1%, 40.2% in the repeat hepatectomy group, with no significant difference between the two groups (x2=1.610, P＞0.05). The cumulative 4-, 5-year survival rates of the PRFA group were significant higher than those in the repeat hepatectomy group (x2=4.682, 4. 196, P ＜ 0.05). The local tumor recurrence rate of the PRFA group was 5% (4/79), and the incisal margin recurrence rate was 3% (2/72) in the repeat hepatectomy group, with no significant difference between the two groups (x2=0.565, P＞0.05). Conclusion As a less invasive treatment method, PRFA is superior to repeat hepatectomy for solitary recurrent HCC with the diameter≤3 cm. Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Recurrence; Catheter ablation,radiofrequency; Hepatectomy; Efficacy analysis