Percutaneous cryoablation after chemoembolization of liver carcinoma: report of 34 cases.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the indications, efficacy and clinical significance of percutaneous cryoablation for liver carcinoma after transcatheter liver artery chemoembolization (TACE).


METHODS
Thirty-four patients with histologically or clinically confirmed primary or metastatic carcinomas were treated with TACE. One week to 1 month later, they were treated percutaneously under ultrasound guidance using cryosurgical system in the period of July 2001-June 2002. All patients were followed up to determine serum tumor marker, CT scans, MRI images or ultrasound images.


RESULTS
This therapy was performed in 34 patients including 32 patients with Child A liver reserve, 2 patients with Child B and no patient with Child C. There were 28 patients with primary liver cancer and 6 patients with metastatic liver cancer. During the follow-up period (3 to 15 months), 41.1% patients were recognized clinically cured because the serum tumor markers became normal, or CT scans and MRI images revealed that the lesion became completely necrotic. 44.1% patients were recognized effectively treated.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous cryoablation combined with TACE is a choice of treatment for liver carcinoma. It is minimally invasive, safe and effective for those patients with liver cancer unsuitable for surgery.
Qian
Guo-Jun
GJ
Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China. qgjs@public6.sta.net.cn
Chen
Han
H
Wu
Meng-Chao
MC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome