Single-session combined therapy with chemoembolization and DSA-CT guided radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 5 cm: A primary clinical study

Abstract

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of single-session combined therapy with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and DSA-CT guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) larger than 5 cm. Methods A total of 21 patients were treated with TACE immediately followed by DSA-CT-guided RFA. Rate of technical success, local-regional tumor response, recurrence-free survival time, survival rate and complications were evaluated at follow-up images and AFP (α-fetoprotein). Results Technical success was achieved in all 25 visible HCC. No major complications was observed in any patient. Nineteen patients were complete response (CR) and 2 were partial response (PR) after the 1st months. Coagulation necrosis was the major appearance. CR occupied 90.48% (19/21). PR occupied 9.52% (2/21). Local-regional tumor response in solitary nodular lesions (17/17, 100%) was superior to multiple nodular lesions (2/4, 50.00%; P=0.034). During follow-up period, mean recurrence-free survival time was 11.8±6.0 months in 19 cases with CR. The estimated overall survival rate at 6, 12 months and 18 months was 100%. Conclusions Single-session combined therapy with TACE and DSA-CT guided RFA in large hepatocellular carcinoma was safe and effective, especially for solitary nodular lesions. Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular; Chemoembolization, therapeutic; Catheter ablation; Single-session