[Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for liver cancer located in hepatis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility, effect and problems of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) performed for small liver cancer located in hepatis.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients, who had small primary or metastatic liver cancer confirmed clinically or pathologically that were located in hepatis and less than 5 cm, were performed PRFA between April 2000 and October 2002. All patients were followed up to examine the value of AFP, MRI or CT. Kaplan-Meier estimation was used for the disease-free survival rate and the long-term survival rate.


RESULTS
The rate of AFP positive down to negative was 77.8% (7/9). The complete necrosis rate was 90.5% (19/21). The peri-tumor recurrence-free survival rates of 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2-year were all 94.7%. The distant recurrence-free survival rates of 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2-year were 90.0%, 77.1%, 77.1% and 77.1% respectively. The whole survival rates of 0.5-, 1-, 1.5- and 2-year were 89.2%, 82.8%, 82.8% and 55.2% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Small liver cancer located in hepatis was not the contra-indication of PRFA. If the puncture point and route is selected properly, electrodes outspreaded exactly and the range of heating controlled appropriately, PRFA is an effective method and of less complication rate for small liver cancer located in hepatis. Sometimes, PRFA can be combined with TACE for those tumors of the diameter larger than 3 cm.
Zhang
Zhi-jian
ZJ
Department of Ultrasound Intervention, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China.
Wu
Meng-chao
MC
Chen
Han
H
Liu
Qi
Q
He
Jia
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography