The influence on liver parenchymal function and complications of radiofrequency ablation or the combination with transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Objectives: We investigated how radiofrequency ablation (RFA) alone or the combination with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE-RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) affects the liver parenchymal function of underlying chronic liver disease to find a predictive factor for selecting appropriate candidates for RFA. Methods: In 53 HCC patients (RFA alone, 25; TAE-RFA, 28), liver laboratory tests and development of complications were monitored until 6 months after treatments. Serum albumin deteriorated within 1 month and recovered after 6 months in both groups, whereas the elevation of the Pugh score continued in RFA alone group and that of serum bilirubin continued in TAE-RFA group until 6 months. The elevation of Pugh score 6 months after RFA was significantly more frequent in patients with a high pre-treatment Pugh score (>/=8 points) than in those with a low pre-treatment Pugh score (<8 points). Complications after RFA were observed in 11 of the 53 patients: temporary complications in 5, refractory ascites in 6. Refractory ascites developed in only patients with a high pre-treatment Pugh score. Conclusion: Liver parenchymal functions in patients with a low pre-treatment Pugh score were transiently deteriorated by RFA or TAE-RFA. However, in patients with a high Pugh score, RFA or TAE-RFA induces long-term deterioration of the liver parenchymal functions and causes serious complications. Therefore, patients with a Pugh score >/=8 points would not be good candidates for RFA or TAE-RFA.
Koda
Masahiko
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Tottori, Japan.
Ueki
Masaru
M
Maeda
Yoshiko
Y
Mimura
Ken-Ichi
KI
Okamoto
Kinya
K
Matsunaga
Yoshiko
Y
Kawakami
Manri
M
Hosho
Keiko
K
Murawaki
Yoshikazu
Y