Abstract
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the technical and clinical outcomes of using laparoscopic radiofrequency (RF) ablation for treating large subcapsular hepatic hemangiomas.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed our sequential experience of treating 124 large subcapsular hepatic hemangiomas in 121 patients with laparoscopic RF ablation.ResultsThe mean diameter of the 124 hemangiomas was 9.1 ± 3.2 cm (5.0–16.0 cm). RF ablation was performed successfully in all patients. There were 55 complications related to the ablation in 26 patients, including 5 of 69 (7.3%) patients with hemangioma <10 cm and 21 of 52 (40.4%) patients with hemangiomas ≥10 cm (P < 0.001). No injuries to abdominal viscera occurred in all the 121 patients. According to the Dindo–Clavien classification, all the complications were minor in 26 patients (Grade I). Out of 124 hepatic hemangiomas, 118 (95.2%) were completely ablated, including 70 of 72 (97.2%) lesions < 10 cm and 48 of 52 (92.3%) lesions ≥ 10 cm (P = 0.236).ConclusionLaparoscopic RF ablation therapy is a safe, feasible and effective procedure for large subcapsular hepatic hemangiomas, even in the hepatic hemangiomas ≥ 10 cm. Its use avoids thermal injury to the abdominal viscera.
Highlights
Hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors occurring in human livers, with an incidence rate of 0.7% to 7% among general population, and are frequently diagnosed incidentally by abdominal imaging which is usually performed for other indications [1]
There were 55 complications related to the ablation in 26 patients, including 5 of 69 (7.3%) patients with hemangioma
We retrospectively reviewed the data records of consecutive patients with large subcapsular hepatic hemangiomas who had been treated by laparoscopic RF ablation from October 2011 to February 2015
Summary
Hepatic hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors occurring in human livers, with an incidence rate of 0.7% to 7% among general population, and are frequently diagnosed incidentally by abdominal imaging which is usually performed for other indications [1]. The rapid development of laparoscopic resection has provided great opportunities for treating hepatic hemangiomas in a minimally invasive fashion [5,6,7]. Great technical challenges exist while using laparoscopic liver surgery for treating hepatic tumors and this technique is usually appropriate for treating patients with lesions located in the lower segments of livers [5,6,7]. Other minimally invasive procedures such as transarterial embolization or radiation therapy, have been attempted for treating symptomatic hepatic hemangiomas, but these technique are not curative treatments [8,9]
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