Percutaneous Radio-Frequency Ablation of Liver Malignancies

Abstract

To describe the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) to treat liver cancer. One hundred patients with histologically or clinically confirmed primary or metastatic malignancies were treated percutaneously under ultrasound guidance using LeVeen multipolar array needle electrode and RF 2000 generator between October, 1999 and October, 2000. All patients were followed up to assess complication, treatment response, recurrence and curative effect. PRFA was performed in 76 patients with primary liver cancer and 24 patients with metastatic liver cancer. AFP positive of small hepatic cancer (inoperative) became AFP negative in 75.0% patient (21/28). The rate of completely concrete necrosis of small hepatic malignancies shown by MRI was 85.9%(61/71). PRFA as a local thermal therapy is a kind of new palliative treatment for hepatic malignancies. It is minimally invasive, safe and effective especially for small hepatic tumors and can also be used in conjunction with TACE for larger ones.