Abstract
Objective To summarize the experience in treatment of unresectable primary liver cancer (PLC) with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and evaluate the outcome. Methods Over a 3-year period, 49 consecutive patients with solitary or muhinodular PLC (Child-Pugh class A or B) under-went RFA. Histopathologic types were of hepatocellular carcinoma in 43 cases and of cholangio-carci-noma in 6. The tumor size was 1.5-- 10. 0 cm. RFA was performed by a RITA expandable electrode device(RF-1500) followed by TACE administration 3-4 weeks later. Local efficacy was evaluated with computed tomography (CT) performed at an average of 4 weeks after RFA treatment and then during follow-up. Results There were no severe complications after RFA in all the patients. The total 1, 2 and 3-year survival rates were 77.5%, 56.5% and 44.0%, respectively. Tumors no more than 5cm in diameter could be ablated inside out. The 1, 2 and 3-year survival rates were 100%, 79.6%, 61.9%, respectively. The treatment response of RFA was assessed as curative ablation (complete tumor ablation with 0.5-1 cm ablative margin) in 19 cases, sub-curative ablation (complete tumor ablation with less than 0.5 cm ablative margin) in 9 cases,non-curative (noncomplete) ablation in 21 cases. The 2-year survival rate was 85.7 %, 60.0% and 24.3%, respectively, in patients with differ-ent types of response. Conelusion RFA has similar effect as resection of PLC on small tumors. The classification method for the evaluation of RFA display the results in 3 grades, and it is useful for the selection of adjuvant therapy. Key words: Carcinoma,hepatoeellular; Radiofrequency ablation; Survival rate; Treatment outcome
Published Version
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