title: Usefulness of laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Our intent was to evaluate whether laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and a high degree of liver damage has a role to play in the management of the disease. Laparoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic radiofrequency ablations were performed on five patients and the short-range outcome and complications of these patients were evaluated. The evaluation of the primary liver tumor by the radiofrequency ablation was carried out by computed tomography on the seventh day after surgery. Three patients underwent laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation, and the other two patients underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation. The Child-Pugh status of all tumors was B status, and one patient had complications due to postoperative ascites. Laparoscopic and hand-assisted laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation with a cooled-tip electrode needle was found to be a safe and effective local treatment of hepatic focal lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tumor Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu-Okocho, Nankoku-City, Kochi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okabayashi
authors.forename: Michiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Toyokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akimori
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akisawa
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Keijiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome