Efficiency and influencing factors of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation as treatment in hepatic malignant tumors

Abstract

To evaluate the efficiency and influencing factors of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as treatment of hepatic malignant tumors. Clinical data and follow-up radiographic images of patients with hepatic malignant tumors who had undergone treatment with ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA at our hospital between March 2012 and March 2014 were reviewed. Rates of incomplete ablation, recurrence, and tumor progression were calculated, and the factors affecting each were analyzed. Four hundred and twelve lesions were ablated in a total of 392 ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA procedures applied to 360 patients. The average tumor size was 2.51±1.10 cm. During at least 3 months of follow-up, the complete ablation rate was 86.11% (310/360), the recurrence rate was 7.78% (28/360), and the progression rate was 6.1% (22/360). Tumors with vessel-proximal location, size of ≥ 3 cm and ≥ 3 month presence had significantly higher rates of residual lesions after ablation (χ(2) = 4.431, 10.889 and 8.000, respectively; p<0.05). Tumors with ≥ 3 month presence had significantly higher rates of recurrence and progression (χ(2) = 29.032 and 22.092, P < 0.05). Ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA can effectively control local progression of hepatic malignant tumors. Tumor size, length of presence, and vessel-proximal location are influencing factors of complete ablation rate, while length of presence is also an influencing factor for the recurrence and progression rates.