Long-term follow up and prognostic factors for cryotherapy of malignant liver tumors.
BACKGROUND
The aims of this study were to determine the long-term outcomes of cryotherapy in patients with hepatic malignancies and to describe prognostic factors that may affect survival.


METHODS
Ninety-eight patients (56 colorectal metastases, 28 noncolorectal metastases, 14 hepatocellular carcinomas) undergoing hepatic cryosurgery were identified in a retrospective review from January 1994 to December 2002.


RESULTS
Overall survival rates at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5- years were 81%, 62%, 48%, and 28%, respectively(median survival, 33 months) compared to a hepatic recurrence-free survival of 76%, 42%, 24%, and 16%, respectively (median hepatic recurrence-free survival, 20 months). Median follow-up was 54 months. Three hundred lesions were cryoablated; the recurrence per cryolesion was 5%. Major complications were the lone factor that significantly reduced overall (P=.0005) and hepatic recurrence-free survival (P=.0005). The number of lesions (TNL) and total estimated area (TEA) cryoablated did not significantly affect overall or hepatic recurrence-free survival. Additionally, outcomes depending on tumor type were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
Cryotherapy is an important option for a wide range of unresectable malignant hepatic tumors and provides the potential for long-term survival. Patients with major complications at the time of cryotherapy suffer a decreased overall and hepatic recurrence-free survival.
Kerkar
Sid
S
Department of Surgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
Carlin
Arthur M
AM
Sohn
Richard L
RL
Steffes
Christopher
C
Tyburski
James
J
Littrup
Peter
P
Weaver
Donald
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome