Radiofrequency ablation of malignant hepatic neoplasms.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of malignant neoplasms of the liver.


METHODS
Sixty-seven patients received RFA for primary or secondary hepatic malignancies. Patients were followed prospectively with computed tomography (CT) scanning to assess for therapeutic response, disease progression and complications.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight lesions were treated, including 57 hepatocellular carcinomas, 28 metastases, 2 cholangiocarcinomas and 1 hepatic plasmacytoma. Mean tumour size was 2.7 cm (range 0.5-6.9 cm). A total of 101 ablations were performed (66 percutaneously, 35 intraoperatively). Over a mean follow-up period of 142 days, results were available for 85 lesions. Local tumour control was achieved for 61 (72%) lesions, but new distant lesions developed in 6 of these cases. Residual disease was present in 20 (23%) lesions, and 4 (5%) lesions developed local recurrence. There were 10 complications, including 1 death in a patient who developed a liver abscess and subsequently died from hepatic failure.


CONCLUSIONS
RFA is safe and effective in the treatment of hepatic malignancies. Local tumour control can be achieved in most cases; however, careful surveillance is important for detecting recurrent disease, as well as new lesions distant from the treated site.
Chan
Raymond P
RP
Department of Medical Imaging, St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St., Toronto, ON M5B 1W8. chanr@smh.toronto.on.ca
Asch
Murray
M
Kachura
John
J
Ho
Chia-Sing
CS
Greig
Paul
P
Langer
Bernard
B
Sherman
Morris
M
Wong
Florence
F
Feld
Ronald
R
Gallinger
Steven
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media