Radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Most patients with colorectal carcinoma will develop liver metastases. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been utilized in metastatic CRC to help improve the survival gap between resectable and unresectable tumor.


METHODS
The current use of RFA in selected patient populations is reviewed.


RESULTS
RFA provides a survival benefit in patients with unresectable hepatic metastases from CRC compared with chemotherapy alone. It offers effective local tumor destruction in appropriately selected lesions and minimizes the morbidity and mortality of an open resection. Common complications are abdominal bleeding (1.6%), abdominal infection (1.1%), and injury to the biliary tree (1.0%). Mortality ranges from 0% to 0.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Trials are underway to compare chemotherapy plus local ablation to chemotherapy alone. RFA is a tool that should be utilized by experienced individuals to achieve optimal oncologic outcomes.
Feliberti
Eric C
EC
Division of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
Wagman
Lawrence D
LD
D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome