title: [Laparoscopic and percutaneous ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is emerging as a new therapeutic method in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We report the results of 64 patients with a follow-up interval of 3 to 19 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four patients with 82 nodules underwent ultrasound guided RFA. The mean tumor diameter was 2.5+/-1.0 cm. Laparoscopic ultrasound guided RFA was performed in 38 cases, and percutaneous ultrasound guided RFA in 26 cases. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by means of three-phase dynamic abdominal computed tomography (CT) performed within at least one week after ablating. The recurrence was evaluated after treatment by means of abdominal CT and alpha fetoprotein every 3 months. We calculated cumulative recurrence rates, survival rates of patients, and found out complication of RFA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cumulative recurrence rates in 3, 6, 12 months after RFA was 8.8%, 15.8%, 25.9%. 12 cases were recurred during follow-up. Among them, intrahepatic recurrences were noted in 11 cases, local recurrences in 3 cases. Cumulative survival curves indicated that survival rate was 95% at the third month, 94% at the sixth month, 81% at the twelfth month. After RFA, the alpha fetoprotein level was decreased significantly after 1 month (p<0.05), and serum transaminase levels were transiently elevated (p<0.01) but returned to normal within one week. Complications of RFA were not serious, and resolved spontaneously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA can be considered a useful new treatment for HCC. Laparoscopic RFA is a useful procedure for the treatment of HCC regardless of its location.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Liver Research Institute, Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. wytak@knu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Min Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jong Hyup
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Seok
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Won Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.forename: Young Oh
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Sung Kook
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joon Mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional